everyday we go nowhere (open)

[çryptic]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][atrb=style, background: #4e6489, bTable] [style=position: relative; z-index: 5; color: #122d51; text-align: justify]"Talk the talk" Apollo was not his usual self. Truthfully, he hadn't been for awhile. Before, he'd been fueled with hidden purpose. That same purpose had given way to uncharacteristic gloom. Once upon a time, he had planned to make an ally out of Course, to eventually use the other's position in Lexis to advantage. Of course, that plan had ground to halt practically before it'd been set in motion thanks to the other lion's evaporation into thin water. Meanwhile, Florence was killed, Panja turned senile, and now the Alex he'd hoped would meet some early demise was in charge. He had waited too long, that he knew. It was in this vein of thought that Apollo strode slowly along. And why would he hurry? He had no particular destination in mind, nor mission to fulfill. Back on the Pride lands, there would probably be various menial chores to do--hunting, standing guard over the border, over prisoners. Not here, and he doubted anyone would notice his absence. He was off their radar, and it had been that way for some time. Apollo had no desire to have to be any more involved with the new leader than absolutely necessary. He could still sharply recall the first--and only--time he'd ever spoken with any of his half-siblings. It irritated him to think of how hollow his threats seemed now. Part of him wondered whether Nebula remembered it; even if she didn't, to concede by accepting the change in leadership was unthinkable. The lion released a frustrated huff, his breath a visible puff of white. His steps eventually halted as he arrived at the edge of the lake. It was frozen solid, it's crystal clear surface now opaque and inhabitants impossible to make out. If it weren't for how cold it was, he could have easily kept on going. But he did not. Instead, he simply stood there, oblivious to the chill, as he wondered whether his situation would be any different by the time warm weather returned and melted this barren expanse.[/style]

[Mika]

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[atrb=background,http://i49.tinypic.com/xn69si.jpg] "Speech." Yet another, somewhat, uneventful day. There was the very small incident with an escaped prisoner but, that was withing Iris territory. The only exciting thing she could recall happening recently was her meeting a Tempest dog not too long ago. That situation probably would have been a lot worse if that dog knew where this lioness was from at the time. Being a spy wasn't as interesting for Celia as she thought it would be. It was probably because it was winter; everyone was too busy freezing to death and spreading some new disease, which the young lioness hoped to never come into contact with. Though not particularly thirsty, she was searching for a water source that hadn't been frozen. She slowly approached the lake only to discover, as she feared, the lake was frozen. She placed a paw on the ice. It was solid, almost like concrete. The only reason she didn't think the lake was completely frozen through was because she could, vaguely, see small creature swimming around beneath the thick layer of ice. She slowly walked along the lake shore, watching carefully for any part of the ice that might be weaker than the rest. She stopped when the scent of a lion caught her attention. He was a yard or two away from her, inspecting the ice just like she was doing. From what she could see at this distance, he was small, a runt just like herself. Celia decided, for now, to just be wary of the stranger as she turned her attention back to the lake. The small lioness was standing in a spot that had been warmed by the sun a little. The ice had been melted a little too, making it weak enough for her to press down hard on it with her paws. Once the ice had been broken enough, she crouched in front of the lake and started to drink, occasionally taking wary glances at the male.

[çryptic]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][atrb=style, background: #4e6489, bTable] [style=position: relative; z-index: 5; color: #122d51; text-align: justify]"Talk the talk" Lost in his reverie, he was slow to realize that he was no longer alone. It wasn't until the stranger was so close he could hear the sound of ice cracking that he registered the lioness's scent. Apollo silently cursed his own inattentiveness as his eyes landed on the other. She, or anyone for that matter, could have been planning to sneak up on him and he wouldn't have noticed til they attacked. Sitting alone oblivious to his surroundings, he had made a perfect unsuspecting target. For him to have assumed that no one would come by here just because it had appeared isolated, how foolish. Fortunately she had stopped a few yards away and was merely drinking from a small hole she had created in the ice. Apollo studied her through the corners of his eyes, conscious of the cautious glances being sent his way. If she had any hostile intent, she would have attacked when he wasn't paying attention. Still, he preferred to think of everyone as a foe until proven otherwise. Who was to say that she hadn't followed him here for whatever reason?--one would think that most people would have better things to do though. He felt compelled to break the silence as it stretched on. So he did. "You've come awfully far just for a drink of water," Apollo abruptly, and rather randomly, remarked. "That's assuming you come from the city, of course." This was less a conversation starter than it was a way of gauging whether she really might have tailed him. Or maybe he was just being paranoid.[/style]

[Mika]

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[atrb=background,http://i49.tinypic.com/xn69si.jpg] "Speech." She licked excess water from her muzzle and rose to her haunches when she had had enough, and after catching a glimpse of the male approaching her. She back away from the lake a little, in case he was looking for water as well. She didn't know exactly what it was but, there was something about this male that just rubbed her the wrong way. Maybe it was because he was older? She really didn't know the reason why she didn't trust this lion. She continued to stand and remain wary of the stranger. She kept a calm expression on her face and flicked an ear at his comment. "Most of the water sources in the city are frozen. Until winter is over, it's not really that unusual." She said in an equally calm tone. "I've been here, in the countryside, for a while." She said as she looked at the male. He was older, which she already noted, but he was also small. She didn't know if he wanted anything. If he was looking for trouble, he would be a challenge for her. He was a runt, but so was Celia. "I'll just say it, I don't know if I can trust you." She said boldly to the stranger, not really thinking of the possible consequences. "For now, you can call me Fi." She had decided to use that name outside of Iris territory. She didn't know who this male was or where he was from, so she might as well perform her duty as a spy. (sorry it's not very good. guess I'm still getting used to playing her)

[çryptic]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][atrb=style, background: #4e6489, bTable] [style=position: relative; z-index: 5; color: #122d51; text-align: justify]"Talk the talk" Apollo was still watching her with an impassive expression as she took a step back from--whether from the lake or from him, he couldn't have said. She appeared unfazed despite his unwarranted question. Still, he could tell she was on guard. Something in the way she was watching him, as though sizing up how much of a threat he might pose, if any. It was a look of suspicion that he recognized well; he himself wore it often, even now. Anyway, she had a point. "I suppose," he conceded. Her response said nothing about whether she had purposefully tailed him. Probably not, or she would have already decided how dangerous he might be instead of doing so now. Apollo pulled a look of feigned surprise at the lioness's sudden remark. "Oh? Do you normally trust strangers on sight?"

[/color] His eyes narrowed. The "for now" gave him some pause. "Fi" was bound to be an alias. Giving a real name right after voicing her distrust was silly. There was nothing he could do about that though. Attempting to use force to get a more truthful introduction was always an option. A pointless option, but an option nonetheless.

And besides, two could play at that game. "Well then, for now, call me Apollo."[/color] A small smirk played across his muzzle as he gave a polite nod. Let her wonder for herself whether he was being honest or not...just a minor way to amuse himself due to a lack of other forms of entertainment.[/size][/style][/blockquote]

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