Oh miss! Oh Miss?!

[Cookie -n- Cream]

The freezing cold mountain rains had recently rushed by his maw as it swept so closely to the Valley of Good Crossing below. He was delighted that it had passed their direction, or else he’d probably have had to build a shelter for their bunking queens. It wasn’t that he disliked the shelter building and the helping of these poor creatures, in fact, Atlas loved helping people in anyway he could. Good Crossing was mostly filled with warm hearted females that gave their soul to all of those who needed it- but Atlas was different. The male had a soft spot for just about everything, and the giant brute could have easily ruled a land of his own, heck of his size he could challenge the king for dominance! At Atlas’ size it was hard to take care of females the way he wanted to- they were always asking him to build the shelter, move this, make that, he was getting physically exhausted no matter how hard he pushed to do his best because he wanted to help.

He let his back lip curl as he thought which, by the way, was extremely unusual. It wasn’t that Atlas was dumb, the brute was just used for grunt work half of the time and decided not to use his brain most of the time. It helped him concentrate because even though he was extremely intelligent- he was not a much focused thinker. Anything, and everything around him would easily have distracted him, and he wasn’t very observant either, so if something moved he’d be more puzzled to it than anyone- but not completely oblivious. The poor lion would be confused out of his mind. “I know it was there… but what was it?”

Atlas turned on his heels and smiled a goofy grin. He was going to work on building the shelters now, then attend to lady Zel, and then see if he could help any of the ladies around camp. He moved quickly with his brisk muscles and found some great materials to put on top as a roof. It wasn’t so much the cold air and the snow from the mountain he was worried about- with all of the bodies around camp they were pretty insulated, he was more worried about the rain. Rainy season had miraculously popped back up, the rivers were flowing at their fullest extent now and not just at a measly trickle. This was the time when most of the lionesses would be mating which meant they’d have an overflow of females to join them before the next heat wave and drought.

He looked around until he found a nice piece of dogwood from a savanna tree and then loaded all the palm leaves and grass coverings he could find outside of the valley. He had the palm-leaves previously from his last trek into the desert to get some cactus juices. He knew that females traveling would eventually be struck with terras bite or at least the red bugs. She shivered, the terra bite was painful and those little red devils made him cringe. He twitched thinking about them- the big wuss. He loaded a few more little left over pieces of trunk from the dead tree and hauled the thing quickly back to camp.

He glanced around quickly to make sure there were no females that wanted entrance before he decided to build the shelter. Off of an existing ledge he threw the palm leaves over and threw a piece of the wood on them to keep them from moving. Sturdy as a rock, they wouldn’t even move during a sand storm- meaning this would be a great shelter even in the event of one of them- which never happened in the pleasant little valley. He lined the big chunk of trunk in front of the entrance, under the leaves and left a gap big enough for even the largest of females to fit through easily, and light to pierce. Finally, he lined the floor with moss and the walls with grass to keep the females warm from their treacherous journey across the freezing mountain. He nodded to himself ‘What a nice job Atlas!’ he then bit his tongue for the praise he’d given himself and turned away.

Oh what would it be like if the queen decided to have cubs! He lit up with glee, she would probably want to stop by for a nice relaxing weekend and enjoy time there with all of her friends to. He put on a nice grin and began to space. Oh she would praise him and the others for treating her so well on her journey. He’d never personally seen the queen, though he’d been to the royal lands many times, he’d seen the king once but only once. He’d seen plenty other lords and ladies however, and the king and queen’s servants were always about doing errands and dragging back prey for the couple. From everything he’d heard, she was a gorgeous, and nice female with plenty of grace.

He smiled and looked back up at the sun. Shadows were forming and clouds began covering a darker shade of grey. He knew his shelter was a little on the small side- but they didn’t have many queens around just yet- he’d have to expand. “All queens, in the event of a cold storm, a shelter has been set up by the river so you may have a pleasant ride through the storm if you wish.” He dipped his head, if anyone was listening anyway, and then turned his attention to the one female he needed to check up on. Zel. “Oh miss Zelyra! Miss Zelyra?” he called over some distant rumbling.

[Creature :]]

but the sun rolling high, in the sapphire sky...

“Oh miss Zelyra! Miss Zelyra?”

The Lady of Good Crossing lifted her golden head at the sound of her favorite servant's voice. She lay in the back of the caverns, in her private cave. Her gentle blue eyes were glazed in pain and she groaned. Her legs were very swollen and slightly browned. She hadn't moved, and she'd been in terrible pain for the last week. The swelling wasn't as bad as earlier in the week, and the browned skin was fading. She had been washing with snow, which gave her some relief, because while she washed, the freezing cold also numbed her legs, giving her temporary relief.

Arden had been more than wonderful since she had contracted Terra's bite, and collapsed at the mouth of the caverns. She could barely handle looking weak in front of the group of lions that depended on her as their leader. Pity was something she really didn't like, and she had gotten plenty lately. She had chosen to stay in her own quarters and run things through Arden to keep the moral of the group up. When someone insisted on visiting, she put on a brave face and tried to hide the pain as best she could.

Being stuck in a dark hole for a week had cause Zel some depression. She felt completely useless, and while her people were hunting and working for the coming birthing season, she lay back in her cave doing nothing. When it got really bad, she wouldn't attempt to stand and check on things, but the pain was unbearable, so she she fall back to her side gasping until the pain subsided to the dull, throbbing rhythm she had learned to accept. The pain had been dimming all day, and Zel's mood was slightly better than before. She guessed that by the next morning the pain would be gone completely, and her skin would go back to normal.

But, Atlas was searching for her now, although he knew where to find her, and calling her name was just good manners. "Atlas! I'm here," she called roughly. Atlas was one of a few servants, but he did most of the work. He looked like all brawn, no brain, but Zel knew better. Atlas was a very intelligent feline, very compassionate. His gentle nature was why the brute fit so well into Good Crossing instead of earning himself a knighthood with the main pride. Zel felt very lucky to have Atlas here. He was loyal, and brave, and seemed proud of being a servant. In a way, Atlas was her only friend. Of course she considered her group friends, but being around them had a sort of business feel for her.

Atlas had such an aura that being around him could brighten anyone's day. Her depression for the last week was still visible, but lessened when she was around the brightly colored lion. He had been very worried from the first day, and Zelyra wanted him to know her Terra's bite was almost gone. When she heard his feet padding across the floor, she pulled herself slowly and painfully up from the floor, into a sitting position. Her eyes were still cloudy with pain, but she managed a half-hearted smile between winces.

[/size] [/blockquote]
...keeps great and small on the endless round. [/blockquote]


_{[it's finished and it's still total crap. you make me look bad Cookie. ;3]}

[deepfreeze]

--If you don't mind me joining I woud love too. Please delete if I am unwelcome here. --

---

cause i can't breathe
when your around
cause i can't see
when your around
cause i can't say
i love you
when your around.

[/color][/right][/size]

---

---

Deep Freeze's pads scratched the mountain earth as she silently trotted forward her eyes widen slightly and those crystal clear baby blue eyes followed the two large cats in her space. She faked a sneeze to give warning that she was here, she liked listening inton conforsations, and if they didn't hear the fake sneeze she would conitune to listen, until her mind traveled from her again. She couldn't help but grin with those large blood stain teeth flashing. Her curled fur fluffed out as she settled in the mountain rain that poured threw the thick gray clouds.

---

Her mind flashed into a moment where sunshine shown on her and her once beautiful golden fur and silver tail again wished her moments of suffering had never happen. Her true fear was that a mother of a litter of six would lose every single cub until they were left with one and than they, the mother, would get the jaw locking disorder and died. She shivered and rasped her long pink tongue over her shoulder. Making sure to make the curls stay, she licked her lips and stepped out into the open.

---

The wide open space gave her the chills she has rather stay in the close shadows than the wide open space. A another shiver made me shake my ugly curly fur, until I stopped and spotted the lady of our sub-pack. My eyes hungered for her posion, yet my heart told me to wait and watch for the queen spot to open up. A battle is what the heirs would get. A slim smile broke her face, lifting her scared jaw. She glanced at Zel and the other male. A faint shadow feel apon her face as she stared.

---

"Hello." Deep Freeze whispered bowing slightly to the higher ranked female. My ears burned red and they felt as if they were going to burn off. I was flipping out. Why did I just bow to this female. Than the idea came to mind. 'If I gain her trust I can gain some stats and than...' Her mind traveled away again as she stared at the two big cats, a large male and a large female.

---

---

cause i can't breathe
when your around
cause i can't see
when your around
cause i can't say
i love you
when your around.

[/color][/right][/size]

---

[Cookie -n- Cream]

[ OOC || Please stick to one tense or the other ;] ]
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[/color] he exclaimed. The large purple lion then stood back up and looked at her with worried eyes wondering how much of it was her trying to look tough. He wasn’t the brightest bulb in the box, but he knew Zel well enough to know that she didn’t like being down for the count. He hoped she would feel completely better within the next few days or else he would trek into the desert to get her some cactus water to heal her... he had managed to go half of the way there when building the shelter, he would certainly go out to help his Lady.

“You know, Miss, if that doesn’t get better soon, I will go to the desert for you… right?” he asked wondering if she had any idea how serious he was. A new scent wafted over his muzzle quickly though as he heard a sneeze outside of her den. I wonder if it’s a new queen! Oh… I hope there are more queens now instead of later when the rush comes… even it out a bit no? he thought silently, his front paws needing the dirt for a few seconds as he stared at them. He looked at Zel for moments before whirling around to go outside. He hoped she knew that he wasn’t abandoning her and that he was just excited to see another female come in with cubs.

His head poked out of the den, followed by the rest of his massive body. He was thick and burly, certainly would have made the finest of knights back in the main pride land. His mane was short and curly though, not very dominant, and his colors were blinding in the sun-light. The purple on his legs was even darker than was on his body and white spots, almost star shaped littered the one leg. This was Atlas’ galaxy, as he liked to put it… though he never found any comparisons with the night sky. Every night he’d leave the others and sit in the center of the clearing trying to figure out if his strange markings really were the starry sky, and each night he’d find nothing. But nothing ever discouraged the brute.

He glanced over her mostly uneventful pelt, but the curls on her fur intrigued him. She looked almost sickly, as if she hadn’t been taking care of herself properly and he worried what she meant for the fate of good crossing. The one thing that Atlas was best at was judging what the other lions were like right off the bat. He may not have been smart but he had almost a sixth sense. His insides felt like they were about to come up for a moment before he shook his head and changed his face to be the greeter that he was to so many other females. “Hello, I’m Atlas and this is Good Crossing. May I ask your business here?” Most of the females he came across were already bulging at the stomachs and just needed a good two or three days rest before they worked their way to the birthing grounds, but this one was not so obvious. It was possible that she was a pregnant female but that she was so skinny before that she needed lots of food now… but she didn’t seem like she was pregnant.

He looked upon her more closely this time noting how young she was as well… of course even Zel was young and it didn’t mean much, but he knew there was something odd with this picture. He turned toward the den of his lady. “Oh miss Zelyra, we have a new arrival.” He usually did everything himself when it came to settling in the new arrivals, but they were usually expecting mothers, but Zel always said that they would never turn down a lion that was in need of a good home, food and a nice place to stay. It was her philosophy, he guessed, that she was able to be kind and generous to any lion. The females would come in and she’d go around making sure they were all alright, having a nice time and getting along great. She was a strong leader too and protected all of them from the dangers of the mountains that they had escaped from… any lion who made it this far across the mountain deserved a nice place to stay.

But why, he wondered silently, would she come all the way here without a reason? He wondered, but kept his wonderful smile on his face… she couldn’t possibly suspect that he was iffy about her… he was iffy about a lot of lions, being as he never had proper trust other than his Lady … and it was taught that knights were not supposed to trust anyone, but he always seemed to act as if he were a great lovable lug that loved everyone and everything. [/ul][/ul]
[/center]

[deepfreeze]

---

cause i can't breathe
when your around
cause i can't see
when your around
cause i can't say
i love you
when your around.

[/color][/right][/size]

---

---

My fur was slightly being flatten from the rain and my roar was forming, I would of snarled if I could. But saddly my body and my group of big cats couldn't. I stared at the large male and pended on what to answer this... huge... male. My eyes fluttered over him gaining every trace of his beautiful purple fur. My own, ugly golden fur with silver tail disgusted me, and I was surpised the male didn't turn tails and run. But I had to remind my self that this was the load's camp. "My dear me I keep forgetting." I whispered very low that it sounded as if I was mumbling. My blue eyes trailed to the ground and when I heard the male say, "My Lady" I froze looked up and a grin formed my face.

---

"My great sir, I am Deep Freeze." Slightly I sat on my henchs and as any female would to do wash their fur, I licked my right fore-paw. Drawing it over my other leg, to curl the curls more, I bowed slightly. "My load, I believe, if you are what I say, I am here on a mission." My face drew dark as I looked from where I bowed, it's wasn't me actually looking evil, it was the way the shadows drew apon my face. I smiled and licked my lips, flatteerning my curly fur muzzle.

---

"I need a place to stay you see, and I notice this mountain from a far." My bow was over and as I stopped and looked around as the mountain land scrape, I smiled. "And I believe this is the right place to be." She understood what she was going threw, but her eyes fluttered shut for a moment and she started to open tham when her mummbling started to get alittle louder, "And I shall see to it My lady."

---

A roar was on my lips and when I opened my mouth nothing happen, my eyes widen slightly and I yawned in a most different way. My head turned to the left and my eyes turned right but when your me, you'll never understand the differance bettween fake and real life. I shut my mouth quickly and than spoke, "I may like this place." Her eyes glittered widely.

---

---

cause i can't breathe
when your around
cause i can't see
when your around
cause i can't say
i love you
when your around.

[/color][/right][/size]

---

[Creature :]]

there's more to see than can ever be seen...

Zelyra felt her lips curve into a pleased smile, managing to hide a grimace in it, as Atlas appeared, looking slightly flustered. She watched though, as he took in her condition, as his face relaxed into relief. Zel lowered my head slightly, to formally acknowledge his presence, and her pale golden tail wrapped itself around her paws, to complete a look of tentative contentment. Like she'd said, Atlas just had an aura that made you want to forget all your troubles and romp around like a cub, and right now he was being a very successful pain reliever.

“Oh miss Zelyra, I’m so glad to see you are feeling better!” I heard him say. “You know, Miss, if that doesn’t get better soon, I will go to the desert for you… right?” he then inquired of her.

She laughed in my gentle, tinkling way. "Oh Atlas, you really should have been a knight, dear. If you were as unconditionally loyal to King Kira and Queen Benevolence as you are to me, you would be exalted in the Valley," she complemented. Then she put a playful look on her face resembling a stern mother's and continued, "There will be no pointless journeys into the desert after cactus juice!" Then Zel softened her features, and smiled, "Seriously though, I am healing quite nicely. I would imagine this ailment will be gone by tomorrow morning, and besides, what on earth would I do if I lost my favorite feline to some silly sandstorm?"

Before he could reply, a new scent hit the roof of her mouth, followed shortly after by the voice of a stranger, "Hello." Zel watched as her servant gave her an apologetic look then turned to the entrance, and disappeared. Her ears stood straight, listening intently as Atlas spoke with the stranger, whom she had found was female. She could not hear the soft voice of the lioness, but she heard Atlas' half of the conversation.

After a few moments, Atlas called to her, “Oh miss Zelyra, we have a new arrival.” She wanted to meet this strange new feline, and so she called back, "Please, bring her in Atlas." It bothered her very much not to have the ability to rise and go to greet her herself. She sat up taller, and her tail tapped against the ground, showing her slight annoyance. Although she could not stand, she could still show who was leader here. Zel held her head high, and arranged her expression into the one she used on the rare occasion when her authority was needed. Then she waited for Atlas and the newcomer to enter.

[/size] [/blockquote]
...more to do than can ever be done. [/blockquote]

[deepfreeze]

---

cause i can't breathe
when your around
cause i can't see
when your around
cause i can't say
i love you
when your around.

[/color][/right][/size]

---

www.terrygoodkind.com/forums/image.php?u=27357&dateline=1236882289www.terrygoodkind.com/forums/image.php?u=27357&dateline=1236882289

---

Deep Freeze looked at the den behind the large male, who's name, she found out, was Atlas. Knowing the Lady of the pride was know such as Zel. Sitting on her henchs, she laughed, her voice boomed compaired to what she was used to. "Yes, Atlas, hurry on." A firm look glaced into her baby blue eyes. A hint of a sparkle shown their. Climbing to her paws, she riased her rear and streched, till her muscles felt in place. Giving another strong look at Atlas, she saw his fur was purple, and had stars scrattered everywhere on a single leg. Or on all four, but she didn't pay any notice.

---

She looked herself over. A very messy pelt that curled and twisted at the ends, baby blue eyes, perfect shaped ears, a star on her rear end, and a long silver tail. She flicked her tail towards the desert and she grinned every so daintly. "You come from the desert?" Her nose wrickled up as she scented the sickness with in the camp. It was very faint and she snarled, for the first time here. "Who's sick!" Glancing at Atlas she sniffed and signed safely.

---

Her fur, curly as it was, flatten slightly as she stepped back a single step. Her nose was flaring, she had always been good at scenting sickness, cause it had played such an important roll in her life. A small thumb of her long tail hitting the ground, gave away her fear. Jaws closed tight, she flatten herself against the ground and stared.

---

If the lady would of liked to talk to her, Atlas was sure gonna have to lie to her. Licking her paw, quickly, she stared up at the lion and her eyes closed for a moment and her mumbling began, "Please dear sky loads, please let me live." After her mumbling she sat up, eyes stilled glaced in fear, stepped up to Atlas and said, "Well your lady wants us, lets go."

www.terrygoodkind.com/forums/image.php?u=27357&dateline=1236882289www.terrygoodkind.com/forums/image.php?u=27357&dateline=1236882289

---

cause i can't breathe
when your around
cause i can't see
when your around
cause i can't say
i love you
when your around.

[/color][/right][/size]

---

[Cookie -n- Cream]

[ OOC || Sorry for the long wait!... me love you long time? ]
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[/color] Atlas snarled teasingly at the bird. The creature merely jumped, with the help of his wings, onto the broad lions back and let out a crackled call. His black feathers were splashed with spots, no stars of the purest color white, and his eyes, though dark and black, were defined as they stared at the female lioness before him.

“Laius, it’s not proper to stare,” commented Atlas. When she made the comment on getting to like the place, Atlas’ face drew into a sort of half stare. “Just don’t get too comfortable,” he mumbled lightly. As he walked forward to let her into the Ladies den, his lower throat could be heard rejecting the idea with loathsome growls of acknowledgement. Quickly, however, he stifled them and pushed his nose through the lichen allowing the Lioness through.

Who’s sick?

“Um, I-I am,” he barked in quickly. He gave a half smile to her before he sat down at the entrance to the den. He knew that Lady Zel’s brown skin had significantly diminished, it was almost gone completely… no it was gone, and he also knew that Lady Zel did not like to be put in a position of weakening strength. He didn’t want to make it obvious that he was lying however, “Well, I was sick, but I’d spent a lot of time in Lady Zel’s den and It appears that my stench has rubbed off. I’m terribly sorry lady,” he bowed. Atlas was not fond of lying what-so-ever and he appaled it, but his loyalty was far more great to Lady Zelyra.

He cleared his throat proudly as he stood before his lady and then he turned back to the new one. “I do, indeed, hail from the lands of the Desert,” her purred proudly. “And I was going to serve as a night for the noble king and queen, but I found my needs better met here with Lady Zelyra. Helping her is and forever will be my first priority. I am no Lord, just a pious servant boy.” he added to answer, quickly, some of her previous questions.

He cleared his throat. “Lady Zelyra, this is em.. ‘Deep Freeze,’” he’d never heard of such a name for a lioness before. It only made his suspicions about her even graver. Not only did she seem like a threat, but she was weird. But this Atlas was not a proper one. He slashed the thoughts from his mind. No, I will not be a judgmental lion and a poor character! he hissed to himself. “And Deep Freeze, meet our noble lady, Zelyra!” he said with enthusiasm.

Once he greeted the two he stepped back behind the strange new person, bowing his head as he did. When he had walked completely so that he was at the entrance, he seated himself. This was his common practice, also something he did just to be respectful. However, though this wouldn’t seem like he was doing anything unusual, he was keeping a keen eye on the new comer.

True to form, Laius lifted his wings and flew over to Zelyra’s side. He folded his wings back and then stared at the new comer. The black bodied creature hopped forward a few steps, looking up and down her before he satisfied himself and flew to the other side of Zelyra, apparently looking for praise? Atlas looked on disapprovingly at him, and his impatience with the bird clearly showed.
[/ul][/ul]
[/center]

[Creature :]]

Zelyra
they call me Lady Zelyra, more commonly Lady Zel.
my home is with Good Crossing.
i currently dwell in the my den.
my current mood is cautious & curious.

“Um, I-I am,” Zelyra heard Atlas say quickly after Deep Freeze's question. “Well, I was sick, but I’d spent a lot of time in Lady Zel’s den and It appears that my stench has rubbed off. I’m terribly sorry lady,” She wanted to tell the lioness the truth, that she was the one who was sick, or recovering, but she knew it would only make Atlas seem foolish, so she kept silent. She stood before they could enter, and at the same moment she heard Laius fly down the corridor. The spotted raven was a respectable bird, not a great nuisance like most others of it's kind. She realized her mind was wandering to her cousin's raven. Bee Biter.

At Zel's praise, Arden spoke, “I do, indeed, hail from the lands of the Desert,” he purred proudly. “And I was going to serve as a night for the noble king and queen, but I found my needs better met here with Lady Zelyra. Helping her is and forever will be my first priority. I am no Lord, just a pious servant boy.” She laughed at this. Atlas' large frame made him seem anything but a 'pious servant boy'. "Still," she said chuckling, "I feel as if I've stolen something valuable from their majesties." She smiled warmly at Atlas.

Atlas cleared his throat. “Lady Zelyra, this is em.. ‘Deep Freeze.’” Deep Freeze? She thought, What a strange name. Then again, what a strange lion. “And Deep Freeze, meet our noble lady, Zelyra!” Atlas said with enthusiasm. Zel chuckled again, "Pleased to meet you, Deep Freeze," she greeted, "I hope you plane to stay with us for a while at least? I'm sure you could be most comfortable here with us." Just then, Laius flew over to Zelyra, and examined the newcomer. When he was through, he looked at Zel. She was dipping her head in praise for the raven, when she heard a familiar call. She smiled at Laius and looked toward the entrance to her quarters.

A beautiful kestrel with golden eyes glided in, and perched on Zel's pale golden shoulder. She looked down at Laius. She looked like a stuck up queen looking down on a peasant. Then she turned her head to study the newcomer. When she was through, she spoke calmly, "Greetings." Zel watched the expression of Deep Freeze as the bird spoke, "Deep Freeze, this is Elation. She is my companion." Elation dipped her head in acknowledgment of her name, but said nothing more.

[/center]

some say eat or be eaten
some say live and let live
but all are agreed as
they join the stampede
you should never take
more than you give.

[/blockquote][/size]



FINISHED. >_<

[Cookie -n- Cream]

Hmmm, if deep freeze doesn't come back, I assume this thread is closed and then I'll move it.