LIVE and let DIE [P-pic]

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[atrb=background,http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5140/5565494523_bca5a82aa3_o.png] "Any way the wind blows."

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So far, so good.

Aiyana had made it back into her former home. Of course, it was easy considering the lioness already knew all of the best access points, after living there for most of her life. But home...this place was far from home. Heck, there was no home for the lioness at the moment anyway. But she felt no resentment at this realization- as her light green eyes rested upon the Iris landscape, disgust filled her stomach. The dingy surroundings elicited former nightmares of torture and strict rule from Aiyana's memory. She squeezed her eyes shut as the cries from the prison clawed their way back into her mind, the images of a white wolf's torture freshly sliced into her brain. She couldn't remember the name, or the others involved, but the quality of the memory suggested she had been very young, and surrounded by her family. She hadn't been scared, only curious...and eager to learn.

Now everything was so much different. Although she didn't exactly like canines, the amount of suffering put on that individual was atrocious, as she knew now. Aiyana paused her thought for a second, wondering what had ever become of that poor broken creature. Did she ever escape? Is she still alive? A piece of her wanted so badly to sneak into the dungeon, just to see who remained. However, the fact the area was teeming with guards and rather complicated to reach guaranteed Aiyana would not be venturing that far into the territory, at least not today. No, what Aiyana really wished to know, was what became of her mother and the rest of the pride after her death. Aiyana already knew from the huge rumors that Florence had died, of Tempest causes. Some said it was Brooke who killed the infamous leader of Iris, others said the whole of Tempest had a chunk at revenge. But those details didn't really matter, not as much as who ruled Iris now.

"Panja" was his name, but Aiyana didn't know the lion at all. He had some history with Florence, apparently, and some with her siblings, but Aiyana had never really interacted with him. She was curious of the male and his relationship with the rest of her family and the pride. And most of all...what would he do if he caught Aiyana trespassing on her former territory, after leaving for nearly a year and betraying her mother by befriending her father Streiter? Hopefully, she wouldn't find that out. Although inquisitive, Aiyana wasn't stupid.

Wandering close to the walls, Aiyana sought relief from the heat by clinging to the shadows. This way she also had a better chance at staying unexposed. Down at ground level, with eyes all around, the lioness still felt nervous. If she could only find a way to reach the roof, then she would stick out less. A few times she had come across a domesticated feline, but they never really gave you trouble, as long as you didn't appear suspicious. It was when you came across the bigger cats you had to duck down in case they recognized your true identity-one not affiliated with the pride at all. Although some of the Iris smell would always remain on Aiyana's coat, it was not nearly as strong as it should be.

A dumpster swung into view as Aiyana peered cautiously from a corner. Quickly and nimbly the youth leaped on top and then to the low-hanging roof above it. She froze in her tracks, scanning for other felines, but saw none. She stalked up the roof and stopped under the overhang of a higher one, panting in the shade of the old structure. She would rest here for a second, she decided, and decide where to go next after. She didn't want to stay too long- the afternoon sun was waning, and once it cooled down a little she was sure Iris would become a bustling madhouse of feline activity.

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[atrb=background,http://i53.tinypic.com/167uwox.jpg,true] Denim was getting out of here. He let his paws do the work as he quickly raced through the narrow alleyways, hugging the shadows and keeping a lookout for any other felines. He didn't want to bump into anyone that might hold him back. Denim couldn't stand to be in this wretched place anymore and just wanted to go to the river banks and relax with his friend Natiri. It was unlikely that she would be there. They usually had to organise their meetings, and he hadn't seen her in several weeks. Nevertheless, it would be nice to get some peace from the constant drones of felines. He had just been slumbering in the asylum when he had overheard some felines torturing a dog in the next room. The howls had echoed around him and Denim had had to pin his paws to his ears to try and block out the anguish and pain. That had been the deciding factor. He couldn't stand this hellhole any longer and just wanted to get out. Everywhere he looked, there would be torture and chaos. No one seemed to understand him. No one cared for his views. If anyone found out he was making friends with canines... he would be locked up himself - son of Panja and Florence or not. Denim closed his eyes, trying to shake away the howls that still rang in his ears. It was torturous to listen to such horror. How could any canine or feline inflict such pain on another? It was disgusting. Horrific. It made his blood boil. Denim longed to free the canines that were locked up in his hellhole. The poor sods would never get out now. Not unless a miracle happened. The young lion suddenly stopped in his tracks, sniffing the air. He gazed at his surroundings, trying to note the scent. It wasn't Iris. Sniffing again, Denim narrowed his eyes. In fact, there was a hint of Iris in the air, but it was light. He began padding slowly, keeping out of the sun as he walked. It was a lion. A lion that smelt familiar, but he couldn't quite work out where from. He had never actually smelt such a lion before, but it had the scent of Florence on her. Denim frowned, before looking up at the skip that stood next to him. Above him was a lioness, laying in the shade to cool down. She reminded him of his mother. Denim had once or twice met his half-sister Kira, and she reminded him of her. However, this was not Kira, who used to scowl at him and think him worthless. This was a different lioness, who was definitely related to him. Could this be...? Denim had heard of his second half-sister, Aiyana, but they had never met. Aiyana was no longer part of the Iris Pride. Denim knew little about her, nor why she didn't reside here anymore. Curiosity overwhelmed Denim, so he readied his body and leapt onto the roof of the skip. Padding towards the lioness, Denim noted that she was far larger than the cub. Maybe one day he would be just as big, even bigger, than her. Denim didn't care much about his size, however, as he wasn't interested in fighting. As long as he was fast enough to catch his prey, Denim was happy. Wavering, Denim decided to speak, "You're Aiyana, aren't you? My sister?" Denim clarified. He knew he'd look foolish if he was completely wrong, and this was in fact just another Iris lioness who was enjoying their shade. Denim was almost sure of this though. He had never been more certain in his life.

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[atrb=background,http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5140/5565494523_bca5a82aa3_o.png] "Any way the wind blows."

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Even with eyes half-closed, Aiyana immediately noted the added presence nearby from the corner of her vision. Her first impulse was to whip her head around in surprise, but she caught herself, instead pretending like she hadn't even noticed the other lion and that his presence wasn't an unsettling one. In fact, since she could tell he was young, she mocked an air of authority and almost completely disregarded him. Maybe he will just keep on walking and leave me alone, Aiyana pondered, otherwise I'm screwed. Chin held high, she dared to close her eyes, right up until his voice broke down her secretive walls. She lifted her eyelids, faking an expression of disturbed annoyance as her head lazily turned to meet his.

She faltered slightly as he mentioned her name. How did he know- Suddenly, Aiyana's eyes widened, shattering the indifferent shield she held before. His appearance tickled recognition in her brain, and it took a few seconds for Aiyana to realize where she had seen him before. This was the cub from the mass meeting! She gulped. This could either turn out really good or really bad. Admittedly, something about his character appealed to her, and since they were siblings, harming each other was hopefully out of the question. There was always exceptions, however, Aiyana noted with a dark memory present in her mind. Plus, the way he had greeted her- he must've known she no longer lived here- suggested he wasn't concerned with the fact she was likely trespassing.

She blinked, the display of false pompousness draining from her face. She had opened up a little more now, seeing as her cover-up wouldn't aid her much in the presence of her little brother. It was now all a hit or miss. She couldn't mess this up. Still rather aloof, the lioness replied, "I suppose I am." A small smile curled the edges of her lips. How fascinating was destiny's work today. Out of all of the Iris Pride, she had accidentally met up with her half-brother, whom she had never met before in her life. All this time she had been like a shadow lurking in the corners, following him from afar yet unable to make contact. Yes, she couldn't be wrong about him. He was different. She could just feel it. Or maybe she was finally just going crazy.

Aiyana took her time before offering her brother more words. She mulled over the previous meeting, trying to locate his name in the midst of all the memories. She didn't want to ask for his name, since she already knew it, somewhere- and the meeting was growing more awkward anyways. The least she could do was remember his name! D...Duke...Dudley....Denver- Denim! That was it! Trying to hide the excitement in her voice, she added, "Denim, isn't it?" She paused, unsure if she should apologize for trespassing or just blow it off as if it were unimportant. "I don't think we've ever officially met. You see, I kind of left Iris a while back, because of my conflicting views..." She trailed off, assuming Denim would know the rest, and how she wasn't exactly welcome here. Would he chase her off? Or would he call out for help? Aiyana narrowed her eyes, waiting anxiously for his reaction.

"I'm sorry we never met earlier. Honestly, I was waiting for a proper time to meet my newest addition of siblings, but under those circumstances...it was never appropriate." Even now it was inappropriate...but how would Denim understand? She didn't know if he knew anything about Streiter, her dead father. She smiled sadly, suddenly reminding herself she had no one left now that her parents were dead, her siblings were split up, and her closest sister Kira most likely hated her. Maybe Denim would be her last chance. Aiyana remained silent, feeling as if she was overwhelming the cub with information...and she didn't even know how he would respond to a trespasser yet.


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[atrb=background,http://i41.tinypic.com/30iyl1z.jpg,true] Denim was cautious at first. He was unsure if he had got the right lioness, which would ensue a little awkwardness. He wavered, looking around warily. It was when the lioness, Aiyana, suddenly faltered and her eyes widened, that Denim knew that he had named her correctly. This was his half sister. Denim was immensely curious already. His other two siblings, Alex and Neb, were eager to hate canines with a burning passion after their kidnap. His other half-sister, Kira, was not much better, and reminded him far too much of his mother. And his father? Denim didn't even know what to think of Panja right now. Ever since Florence's death, Denim had barely seen him. It was a lonely life in the Iris Pride when he didn't agree with what any feline believed in. He couldn't wait to leave and find friends that he could call his own family. Quirking a smile, Denim shuffled a little closer, taking in her appearance. He could see Aiyana's likeness to his mother. Denim had never met Streiter, so he had no idea how much the lioness looked like him. He had heard that he was the leader of the Lexis Tribe, whom Florence bred with so that his own children could be his downfall. As Denim gazed at his half-sister, Denim shuddered. She was the product of his mother's calculative mind. The reason Aiyana was here and living was to be a murderer of her own father. Denim wondered what Panja thought of the whole ordeal. He was aware that they had not been mates at that point, but they had still been close. Denim could imagine him disapproving at such a sick act. Cubs should not be used in war. They were innocent. Yet... Denim's mind drifted to his other half-sister, Kira. She had been sculpted perfectly by Florence's paws. And what of Apollo? Denim had heard of his half-brother, however they had never met. What had become of that lion? "Yes, I'm Denim," The lion admitted, surprised that Aiyana even knew his name. As soon as Aiyana mentioned her conflicting views, Denim's eyes widened. His heart pounded with excitement. Was she like him? Denim had heard little about Aiyana since his birth, other than she was no longer welcome in the Pride. He bobbed his head in a nod as Aiyana continued to speak. How would Aiyana have even attempted to meet her new siblings if she was a trespasser in these parts? "I don't know if my other two siblings would be pleased to meet you," Denim sighed, "However they can be very tolerant. I suppose they haven't run me out of the Pride just yet." He let out a small chuckle, and glanced back up at Aiyana's reaction. She was probably assuming he was like every other feline in this blasted Pride. After all, he was the son of Florence. How could the son of Florence not hate dogs? Yet, he was looking at proof that hate does not run in the family. "Sorry for my curiosity, but what happened?" Denim asked suddenly, his curiosity boiling over, "I do believe I may hold some of the same views as you do."

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[atrb=background,http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5140/5565494523_bca5a82aa3_o.png] "Any way the wind blows."

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Aiyana studied the cub with an intensifying interest, trying to mask the excitement in her own expression. Denim was nowhere as defensive as he should be, for a cub who just caught someone trespassing- or maybe he was just sneakier than Aiyana thought. As he leaned in closer, Aiyana swung her head around to either side of her vision to make sure no one was nearby. Not only was this conversation about to become seriously taboo, but just in case Denim was tricking her (which she doubted, but she knew it was always safer to take precautions from experience) she would have to watch for an ambush. Felines sent to watch him could be watching her right now, waiting for the proper moment to strike.

She smirked at his reply. "Yeah, I guess I was rather silly believing in such a notion," She murmured, a trace of sadness evident in her tone, "but I can't be too crazy, if I've met at least one approachable feline here so far, especially a family member." A gleam of hope flickered in her eyes. He seemed like everything she had hoped for. Could he really be just like her? A fleeting feeling of hysteria gripped her. They were really crazy to be out here discussing topics such as these. Aiyana would feel a lot more at ease if they sought a more secluded area, or at least somewhere out of the confines of the territory.

Casting another nervous glance over either shoulder, Aiyana shook her head. "I can't...at least not here. I took a big enough risk coming today, but, I'm glad I did now," Aiyana admitted, pleased with her findings. "Do you know of any good hiding places? Or could we sneak out for a moment? Or will someone notice your absence?" Aiyana found herself watching the sun dip lower into the ground. Once dusk was here, she could be potentially trapped by all of the felines coming out from hiding. She restlessly lifted to her feet, anxious to get moving.

"I think I'd die if Kira caught me here. And as for Panja...I don't even know what he would think," Aiyana added, trying to pass understanding to her half-brother. It was refreshing to speak these names and know he would understand- with everyone else she had met, she had to explain each relation of the name to her and her story. Denim already knew who Kira and Panja were, and the threat they posed to her at the moment.
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[atrb=background,http://i41.tinypic.com/30iyl1z.jpg,true] Denim could tell by Aiyana's stature that she was wary. It was not surprising. The Iris Pride was known for sneakiness and trickery. His eyes flicked from left to right, making sure there were no listening ears. It would be terrible if some cat were to hear them. They would sound the alert of a trespasser, and Denim didn't want his half-sister getting locked up in the slaughterhouse. He shuddered. He was lucky to have never ventured much into the slaughterhouse since the fall of Huntington Hospital, but he swore he could still hear the howls of the poor dogs who were trapped inside. He scanned the surroundings, and once he was satisfied that there were no one around, he nodded to his sister. It would be better to get out of here before someone noticed. Guards were always patrolling these areas. It was strange to think that his father had once just been a mere guard that walked along these alleyways. "No one will miss me," Denim replied, jumping to the ground and beginning to walk down the alley, "I've sneaked out of this hell hole hundreds of times before." He shot Aiyana a grin, before speeding up his pace. He wanted to get out of here so that he could talk to Aiyana alone. When Aiyana mentioned Kira and Panja, Denim sighed, "I know little about Kira. She has no interest in me whatsoever. She thinks I'm a weak little thing that is incapable of anything." He narrowed his eyes at the thought of his other half-sister. They were practically opposites. Denim had no interest in that lioness either. She wasn't related to him, in Denim's opinion. "As for my father," Denim began, "I have no idea. He has changed since mother's death. I've seen him sneak off. He doesn't seem to hate dogs half as much as he did when mother was alive." He frowned. It was still a very confusing subject for him. Suddenly, there was a snarl from behind them. Denim hadn't been concentrating on whether anyone would be approaching them from behind. Denim froze. If he turned around, the feline would immediately recognise him. He exchanged a panicked glance with Aiyana. His whole body was rigid as he heard the pawsteps grow louder. "Show yourself!" The guard bellowed, making Denim's fur prickle, "I smell a trespasser." Denim didn't know what kind of feline was behind them, but he sounded large. Perhaps a tiger or a jaguar? Denim didn't dare look, in case he was recognised. It would be the end of him. Letting out a shaky breath, Denim shouted, "Run!" Before sprinting away from the guard. It was entirely possible the guard would catch them. Denim was still younger and smaller that Aiyana, and most likely the guard too, however they needed to get out of here. He saw the end of the alleyway approaching. Letting out a pant, Denim sped up, aiming straight for the exit, and hoping that Aiyana was right behind him.

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