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Post by rohan on Jun 15, 2016 18:30:52 GMT -7
(hopefully i dont miswrite any of this x-x going of guestimations)
Keres could remember the first time she had seen the rebel camp, she was just a cub at that point. She'd been following a small group of cubs, wandering out of the territory in search of the scarce prey that hid in the outlands. None of the lions needed it, of course, but it was the meer idea- Eating! Having to chew your food! Keres maintained the look of indifference, claiming to only come for the others' protection, but inside she was just as excited as they were. That was, until they left her, the cubs clambering over each other to get away when one of them had spotted the shadowy rebel lions. Keres had meerly crouched in a nearby cover and waited, her legs faintly shaking as she watched wide eyed as the lions approached. Though as they grew closer, fire burned in her chest. No, she wouldnt be taken easily! She had lashed out, and the lions had applauded her for her courage, for the bravery that she showed over the others. They'd taken her back to the camp to rest and meet the others. It was from then on that she slowly grew to share their ideas, their outlook on the pride.
Now? She was still a part of the pride, although if the pride knew what she was up to in her free time, she was sure that would change quickly. Keres was a sneaky one though, and so for years as she grew into an adult and into the pride, she would disappear for days into the wilderness to meet with the rebels, giving information for comradery and warrior training.
Today was one of those days that she crept out as the day began, and by midmorning was lounging with the rebels, exchanging stories and awaiting command for the next raid, or mission.
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Post by starry-knight on Jun 15, 2016 20:08:28 GMT -7
The caverns bustled with lions of all ages, gifts and elemental powers. Each lost in conversation or tasks assigned that left them bustling about. That was before, a familiar face broke through the dark shadows of the caverns to reveal a bony face and a fierce set of red eyes. Calmly this lion trod upon the dirt floor, the crowd parting and making way for him. Whispers carried as he passed, a few bowed heads but almost all fell silent and still as he approached the main group.
Quietly the male with his scraggly mane took his place in front of his rebellion, his voice crackling as he spoke. "My brothers - sisters.....the call to strike is once again upon us." He muttered, now pacing within the circle that now formed. "The pride has shown it's unwillingness to change....their stubbornness towards an ideal they do not understand. They follow blindly after a leader who's rise to power was merely due to an element - not his strength or ability to lead.....we must be their change of mind. Our kind shall not be reduced to mindless zombies following blindly after any word spoken. So, we prepare. In one weeks time family - we will take their Alpha. Leave them leaderless and afraid. Then and only then, will our losses and victories be worth our toil." Arknon bellowed to the eager crowd who fed on his every word. "NOW WHO'S WITH ME!" He yelled, shaking his sparse mane and roaring angrily. The crowd surrounding him picked up in their own shouts and excitement. A feast was in order, and the downfall to the pride was fast approaching....
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Post by rohan on Jun 15, 2016 21:21:26 GMT -7
It was like a switch, the caverns were alite with conversation, and the next second, silence fell rapidly as a soft thud of paws moved into the center of the cave. There wasnt a soul in sight that didnt know who approached though. The lion had earned a respect- or perhaps fear from the younger lions- from every one of them that lingered in the caverns. Keres herself had once feared the boney face, now she only saw opportunity. Opportunity in the strength the male carried, the respect he demanded with a simple glance. Her silver eyes followed his every move as he strode towards the middle, without a thought, many of the lions picked up from where they lay and moved closer. She could see just how easily this male came into power, how he deserved it. He was the center, the beating heart of the rebellion, and his meer presents could prove that to anyone who doubted it.
His voice was ragged, but it fit. Keres couldnt help a small smirk cross her face at the unconscious comparison she found herself doing between Arknon and Ethreal. The time cub would only have an advantage if he knew his element, but it wasnt much a secret that it took him ages to discover that, let alone unlock any of it. If his charismatic speeches werent enough, Arknon could defeat the prides leader with meer force.
Keres slunk towards the front of the circle, her ears straining to catch every word their leader spoke over the hushed murmurs of agreement from the other lions. "A weeks time..." The words tumbling from her mouth without notice, the shock of their sudden action. Would she even have time to go back to the prides and return before the massacre? Or should she stay? Her train of thought was interrupted as Arknon and many other lions shouted. Her own voice joined in, though she remained perplexed. What of Wernen and Lilith?
As the lions around them began to quiet down, a few even edging away from the circle to attend to their tasks, other questions began flitting through her mind. Why now? What has them at an advantage now of all times? She looked towards their leader curiously. What could possibily be different? "What is our strategy?" She voiced, after a moment of hesitation, nerves of drawing his glare to her lighting up and dancing across her mind.
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Post by starry-knight on Jun 15, 2016 21:42:46 GMT -7
The male conversed in soft whispers to another male of the rebellion. The other lion nodding in agreement it seems over something Arknon had spoken. Both focused deeply on their thought, Arknon hardly heard the chirp of a younger member who posed a question. Calm but firm, his deep eyes flicked over to look upon the face of a young lioness. Curiosity lingering within her evident as he eyed her over. "We shall talk more later." The male spoke gruffly, before the male departed with a bow.
Keres now had the full attention of Arknon as he studied her over. "You're Keres? Right my dear...." His voice now rich and attentive. "The spy in the pride lands, of course...how could I forget such a noble sacrifice." Arknon spoke with a smooth and charming allure. Without finishing the thought lingering upon his lips, the male turned and began walking back into the caverns, calling back for the young lioness to follow.
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Post by rohan on Jun 16, 2016 21:06:09 GMT -7
Despite the nerves that had caused her to hesitate earlier, she met Arknons crimson eyes without hesitation, holding his gaze with ease as he looked her over. Though her mind was on high alert, her body language showed nothing of the sort. It was with some annoyance that it crossed her mind that this was what her parents had trained her to be like. An actor to play any part at power, yet insufficient in the self confidence that causes her to halt in deicions. Speaking to Arknon, joining the rebellion, two instances of hesitation to fully commit. She grit her teeth, stiffling the need to snort in annoyance. She'd show them.
"Being the figure-head and war-leader to the rebellion." She mused, her voice soft and smooth as she followed his lead deeper into the caverns. "The noblest of any of our sacrifices." She looked over to him with a small smile. "You are correct. I am Keres, daughter of Enithain and Urthel. It is a pleasure to formally meet you."
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Post by starry-knight on Jun 17, 2016 21:10:42 GMT -7
Arknon did not respond to her remarks, he merely continued his slow saunter further into the caverns that lay at the heart of their operation. Each stride made apparent he was not in a hurry to arrive at his destination, and yet with every ripple of muscle under his fur trod upon the earth with a hidden yet ever present purpose. The bony male took a sharp turn left, down a narrower passageway, traced and walked by only a handful of lions before them. As the tunnel drew in closer, Arknon pushed up against the walls, stopping in front of a dark corner that wreaked eerily. Before he did anything else, Arknon turned his head to look directly into Keres's eyes. "Why are you here Keres? - Don't play games with me either. Your just about as good of a liar as your parents when they told me they wanted to be with the rebellion to make change and fix the pride...." Arknon said with a slight hissing chuckle. "I knew better. They were here in my presence for one thing and one thing alone - POWER. So - why have you?" His words lingered there in the dark. No light penetrated that tunnel, leaving only a faint light from where they had come to illuminate them as the silence drew on.
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Post by rohan on Jun 18, 2016 16:12:03 GMT -7
The cool collected manner in which she reacted earlier slowly slipped from her grasp as they grew further from the light and rumble of the rebels. The deeper into the caverns they went the more she tried to memorize every turn they made, every passage they passed through. It was times such as this the magnitude of the danger she could be in buzzed in her brain. Arknon was far from a safe lion to be around, no matter if she came herself a rebel or not. This only became more apparent as the smell grew more of rot and death.
Her eyes flicked to Arknon, subconsciously sizing him up despite knowing Darn well he would have the advantage- even without their elements. Finally as he stopped and turn back at her, she fought to hold his gaze, her previous demeanor gone.
It seemed like ages to her when he finally spoke, his words seemingly breaking her trance. She breathed out slowly, both from the rancid smell and the realization she had held her breath while he stared. His chuckle between words made her eyes narrow, her body igniting in anger. Her next breath in was equally slow, but this time only to calm herself down; a coldness settling in her bones.
Her gaze steeled on his own while her mind spun to figure what she would tell him. His game was a dangerous one, one that with the wrong answer might mean her demise.
/Why was she here?/ It should be a simple answer. But without depth to it, would he believe her? Her silence stretched on, her eyes falling from his to the ground in thought. She was here for a way to be more than what she was born into. She wouldn't dare admit she was alike in the aspect to her parents, her pride would never allow it. But with power? She wanted it. She wanted it, but her morals differed from her parents'. She would never produce young to move up- never play sides until the strongest prevails to be on that side. She wanted pover, and she wanted to fight for it- not to be told it was inaccessible due to a element.
Her eyes lifted, silver meeting his crimson, narrowed in defiance. "I'm here for the same reason you are. Power." She let a second tick by before continuing. "Its a belief and the goal- is it not? Is the rebellion not fighting for the ability to achieve power- of being a leader, or having a certain rank, completing a certain task- judged on their bodies and minds capability not their element?"
As her questions rung to an end, she pinned her ears back and flicked her tail, adding a quieter- less confrontational finish. "I found this on accident, I stayed for my beliefs and and return with information for those who share it. Why.... why are you here?"
(And now I sit and wait and hope I understood the quick explanation I'd gotten of the rebellion correctly xD)
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Post by starry-knight on Jun 18, 2016 18:35:17 GMT -7
Arknon reveled in the silence between them. Offering her no comfort nor remorse as she considered his question and a proposition in response. His red eyes studied her carefully, noticing the same spark her parents eagerly displayed in her eyes as she formulated a rousing case. Finally, she broke the silence with a response he had come to expect. He had heard them all before, her tall tales were nothing new.
Leaving the silence to penetrate further into the void, the male swung his paw leaving a trail of black shadows whisking across the thin tunnel. Each shadow seemingly screaming out like a poor soul that had been murdered here and now. Once again, Arknon strode casually towards the shadows that had now created the rest of the path that had been before unseen.
Before the pair sat a seemingly large chamber, the smell of death sat upon the ground like a fog, to accompany the piles of bones and claws that riddled it. Arknon, once in the center of the room turned back towards Keres, locking glances once more.
"So you want power. Honesty...how kind of you to offer it." The male said grinning as he did so. He then proceeded to lay down, his paws outstretched lazily, not even a bit concerned about Keres - and he made that adundantly known. "If there can be one thing said in a positive light about me, it is that I respect honesty. Whether I like the answer or not is another matter."
"But to answer your question Keres, have you heard of how I came to be here in the first place? That has every bit to do with why I am here, and why you and the rebels even exist." His voice holding the power and the mystery that laced every word.
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Post by rohan on Jun 19, 2016 21:40:26 GMT -7
Wearily she awaited a response, hoping to have some sort of confirmation she hadnt just signed away her life. However, his actions... Well they were nothing as she expected, and while that wasnt necessarily bad, it wasnt necessarily good. She eyed him and his shadows in silence. If nothing else, it was certain that he was something she would never be able to anticipate.
She watched him from her position in the tunnels as he strode through the shadows and into the hidden chamber, eyes flicking from him to the dances of the dead shadows across the wall, but never leaving him for long. She looked a little shaken, but hid it well as he looked back at her.
She couldnt help but to find amusement out of his play of power, his posture putting him at a physical disadvantage. Of course, it only went to show they both knew he was the stronger of the two. She flicked her tail, finally moving into the chamber, flinching as a shadow lunged only to stop inches before touching her side falling as though it was struck down. Biting her tongue in an attempt to stay calm, she closed the gap quickly, settling to her haunches a few strides from Arknon.
"I have heard pieces, but likely poisoned by bias and fear." She admitted, slowly lowering herself into a laying position. Her subconscious screamed against it, but she knew at this point, it was all his game anyways. If he wanted her dead, she'd be dead. And yet she still took breath after breath, heart beating- albeit a little fast from the situation. "If you would- I would like to know your side- the truth."
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Post by starry-knight on Jun 23, 2016 17:18:54 GMT -7
"Well - " Arknon began, letting a small cough escape his lips to clear his throat. "The story begins when I was just a boy, born and raised in the pride lands. My parents were both proud warriors who traveled often and far to spill blood and enact order for the pride leaders. They were loyal to a fault, finding the restrictions of battle an annoyance but otherwise dedicated their lives to the cause. That was until the alpha of the pride was killed." The male muttered, as if annoyed by the whole ordeal.
"Without a time element to lead, the position was open, filled by the secondary leaders until another time wielder would emerge...thus their tradition dictated." Arknon continued, eyeing Keres warily. "That was when my childhood friend and ally Aeon was discovered to be the next time elemental...." His voice trailing now, anger fueling every word that dripped from his tongue. "Before he knew, we had both discussed being the alpha. We would often fight over it too, tackling each other to prove who was the strongest.... I always had been. And then...suddenly he was the chosen one. The one tasked to lead, when really he was just a timid coward, afraid to get his feet dirty...." The rage now boiling over, Arknon practically yelling his words.
"He sent my parents on a mission off world - instead of going with his troops! They were all slaughtered like sheep. Mutilated - and quickly forgotten. Aeon played off the event as a rogue mission, that MY parents were traitors to the pride and their fates deserved....and he offered me no solace or condolences for my loss. Instead he told me to keep my mouth shut, that he would make everything work out in my favor - including a leader position if I just let it go... but I wouldn't."
"I kept quiet for a while, plotting a way to get the truth out of him - to restore honor to my family name and when I finally spoke out the pride turned its ugly head....it's real side and cast me out as a traitor just like my parents. So, I was sent into the unknown lands, betrayed and only the reputation of a traitor to define me." Arknon said, his eyes bitter and cold. He slowly adjusted, sitting more upright as the story continued.
"So - after nearly a decade of living off the land and alone, I took my revenge. Snuck across the pride boarder, clambered into the caverns, and I slaughtered the Alpha's parents, just as he had killed mine. When Aeon was alerted to my presence, he chased me to the boarder, screaming my name, saying I was a mistake.....saying I was the traitor....not him. But, he couldn't have been more wrong. He was the killer - the murderer - liar and betrayer. He opened the boarders of his lands only to find more powerful fighters, he created ranks to divide and keep people in line....he did not do it because it was right. He did it because he wanted to keep the pride enslaved to his ideals. " Arknon growled. "That is why the rebellion exists my dear. That is why you are all here. Because, the pride is nothing but a lie, masked with a pretty face and a nice story. There is no difference between us, save that we acknowledge why we are here. The pride my dear - does not."
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Post by rohan on Jul 25, 2016 11:07:54 GMT -7
She listened to his story in silence, ears straining for any tell sign of lies or exaggeration, but none found- only anger hot and seething, long held grudges as strong as the day they were formed. She subconsciously shrunk at his raised voice, the familiar feel of bitterness sweeping from his maw as he told more of Aeon's treachery. Her maw fell slightly ajar as he told of his parents murder. While she held very lose bonds with her parents- barely even able to call them parents at most sometimes, she felt empathy in his cause. She would want revenge- if she was in his position, if something were to happen to Wernen or Lilith. She.. She had never heard this. Never heard many negative qualities of the deceased pride leader. Only praise and love from the pride lions.. but. Well that shouldnt be a surprise.
Her suspicion of his story, thinking that he may have lied to lead her astray, fell away quickly. Her jaws tightened as her empathy lead to sharing his anger. Her tail flicked and ears fell as his story came towards an end. Her mind mulled over his story as silence slowly crept in on them. "Why" She began, breaking the silence with an angry tone. "Why does this story not spread? Show Aeon as he truely was." A grumble rumbled from her chest as she slowly stood to pace across the floor. "Surely there must be lions that could see he was not as perfect as the propaganda of the leaders wants to show. Surely there were others that knew of his treachery." A low hiss worked its way out her jaws as she slowed and looked to the ground at her paws. "I am sorry for your loss. Though grateful for your revenge. Those who cause pain without knowing pain, do not know of the destruction in their wake.. What can we do to change generations of mindwashed pride lions?"
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Post by starry-knight on Oct 4, 2016 22:56:46 GMT -7
After Arknon had finished his tale, he could see the fire fueled in his young companions eyes. Her eagerness and passion now spewing in hot words and curious inquisition. He chuckled softly, his gaze now locked onto hers once again. "Most times my dear - the truth is harder to accept than the lies we are told...hmm? When something breaks the mold in which you were raised, your morals, your faith.... would it not be easier to remain in the webbed lies in which you were so carefully cocooned?" Arknon asked, his voice now back to it's stark and intimidating demeanor.
"You ask of those who knew his treachery? Those who would speak out on my behalf? There are none-" His voice blunt. "And," He paused momentarily, thinking to himself "Even if they had witnessed it, none would take my word after the revenge I took upon him and his beloved parents. They were the at the pinnacle of admiration from the pride, they cannot see behind their masks and the fog of lies." Arknon stated, now clambering once again to his paws.
Arknon headed deeper into the darkness of the den, bones rattling and cracking beneath his feet as he stepped. With his back turned to her, he answered her final question. "We will show them what true strength is my dear. With our forces, we will demonstrate that one lion's element does not make him worthy to rule.....and with your help..." His voice trailed, "We will kill Ethereal."
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Post by rohan on Feb 4, 2017 12:20:32 GMT -7
Her jaw snapped closed as she listened to his replies. They felt... slippery, but her faith in the dark leader remained steady and growing. She was lost in the feelings he'd provided, unable to sift clearly through his words for untruths or suspicions. It usually took quite a bit to get her ralled up-the pride talking nasty on the rebellion, someone harming her family- but his story of Aeons treachery had hit a nerve. A solid reason for the rebellion to exist and grow, to eventually take over- before it was all ideology.. now.. she had enough.
She followed his lead a few steps before halting, staying in what little semblance of light there was in the den. "What do you need?"
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Post by starry-knight on Feb 4, 2017 13:13:49 GMT -7
Arknon chuckled softly to himself, taking in a deep breath before letting hot breaths escape his lips. He turned to the young lioness, fire burning in his eyes, "My dear, your passion fuels this fire. You are a true rebel and a valuable member of this rebellion. What I truly need from you, is to accompany me. I lead a small group tonight against the ravine prides tonight. They have been caught assisting Ethereal's pride and must be neutralized in order to allow for our conquest. After today, they will never again fight alongside the traitorous pride...." Arknon said, venom in every word that he spewed.
"Do you think you can help me with that? To fight alongside your brothers and sisters of the rebellion?" He mused.
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Post by rohan on Feb 4, 2017 20:14:54 GMT -7
It was strange to consider the other prides, she had known very little of them from her times in Ethereals pride, it wasn't a topic discussed often. But in the rebellion, it seemed they were keeping a constant eye on the smaller prides. She had never been one to join the massive raids due to her status as meekly a spy.
She was ecstatic to hear the offer though. Her armor here was more of a precaution in the face rhat the rebellion was often to war with others. She shivered at the idea of actually being able to be of more use than just information. She slowly lowered her head, extending her foreleg in a bow. "I'll fetch my armor. When do we leave?"
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