Running the Fringe


An RP by NekoLen and Tachigami

It's dark out today. The rain's here, I guess. I thought it wouldn't get here until later. Tomorrow, maybe... Damned flies... They get so annoying when the air's damp like this. Like the rain hasn't fallen yet, but is sitting in the air, waiting for you to run into it, instead of it falling on your head. I guess that's the best way to describe it, anyway... And rain means lightening---fire from the sky. It's harmed quite a bit, true, but I walk the ashlands after it fades and... cools. And I can almost see the new life. But I guess that kind of thought isn't fit for a fighter.

Keiran sighed, and shook his head again as a large, ugly fly landed on his ear again. It was round and furry, like the other, and almost hid in a wild-looking mane of dark brown, light blonde, and black. It fell over his eyes and slid down his bare back in uneven shards. Dark skin soaked in the shadows that the gathering clouds offered, and golden eyes surveyed the flat expanse that didn't seem to end. Tall grass, short grass, stone and a few scraggly trees. An animal now and again, though most had found shelter somewhere from the coming storm. Even if they gathered into tight groups, or retreated to their underground burrows. Behind him it was far busier. But it always was amongst his kind. Lions. Some were shifted, some weren't, so it looked like humans with tails and ears walked among beasts. A huge rocky hill---more of a small mountain, really, jutted out of the ground, and various paths led to various caves.

The topmost cave belonged to their monarch, a white lion sometimes, and a pale man with pale eyes and hair the rest of the time. He had overthrown the previous monarch just nine seasons ago... It seemed so far away, and perhaps it was. Keiran hadn't been that old when he'd watched that extensive and terriffic battle.

He was nothing special. He looked like any of the others, perhaps. Dark skin, gold eyes... A crazy mane of hair and hide shorts that were sewn out of a variety of animal pelts. Some precious stones sat in dim metal plating around his wrists and neck, and that seemed, to Keiran, to be the only independence he had. At least the stones were different in tone and size to those others wore... He sighed as he heard shouts, growls, purrs, roars, and conversation behind him. He felt as if he were the epitome of the 'lone lion', the one that didn't seem to need---or want---anyone.

The dark clouds swirled in the skies above the plains, sending almost every animal running into their shelters. Such weather wasn't good for hunting. Yet, the small group of hyenas stumbled about, kicking over rocks and snuffling up bugs and mice that they found. Joking loudly, and laughing as most young hyenas did. They flinched as thunder boomed above their heads and they ran, tails between their legs, for a nearby cave.

It had only been a few weeks ago that their mother had kicked them out of the den, biting and growling, fighting those that stayed. The brothers had stayed together, knowing soon they would part ways.

They explored the small cave as the rain came, cursing the Frog Gods for bringing such foul weather before they had yet to find a place to stay. They fought each other, laughing and punching and biting. The three bigger brothers ignored the tag along. The smaller Leif sat at the entrance to the cave, watching the rain fall from the sky. In the distance, he could see the place where the lions lived. He had always wanted to meet a lion, despite what their mother had warned.

"Lions eat hyenas like us. You must stay away from them. Never talk to one," his mother had growled while hitting his older brothers for fighting at the table. "I never want to hear you speak of this again."

Leif's round yellow ears stayed alert, his brown eyes scanning the plains for any sign of an intruder. He had smelt leopard, after all. Though his brothers convinced him that the scents were old, one wouldn't like to be caught out by a soggy and disgruntled leopard.

"Shanazgl, what are you doing over there?" the oldest of the four asked him. He had pinned his other two brothers effortlessly. "Get here before you get wet."

Leif ignored him. How many times must he tell them that his name was not Shanazgl? He had changed his name as soon as he could, hating the sound of the one his mother gave him.

"Piyzt, just leave him. The sooner we ditch the runt, the better," the middle one said with a laugh. Piyzt returned to beating them up. Leif didn't feel sorry that he'd soon be leaving his brothers' side. He knew exactly where he was going to go. His eyes fell on the lion's homes again.

He would show them... That not all hyenas were uncivilized barbarians that never washed and always ate the rotting left overs. Maybe he could become an honorary lion himself. He smiled at the thought. A lion with short black hair and a stubby tail.

When the rain started falling he relished the feeling. The days were always so hot... And the mistiness of the air didn't help things until the rain came down, soaking through his hair and making him shiver. Keiran didn't understand why many disliked it so much. Maybe because it made their coats soggy and their hair stick to them. But it didn't seem to bother him at all. In fact, swimming was one of his favorite activities, which his mother had always found... odd.

A bird fell from the sky, very much alive but its beady black eyes alive with concern. "I saw hyenas." It squawked, fluttering its wings. The noise it made was barely audible as words, but Keiran could understand him. "Hyenas!" It insisted, fluttering against Keiran's shoulder when he turned his eyes back to the misted horizon.

"I heard you the first time, bird." He lifted his large hand, shooing it away. "And what do you expect me to do? How many are there?"

"Three... No, no---four! Four!"

"Then why are you bothering me?" Keiran rolled his eyes. "Why not take it to the monarch if you're so concerned?"

"He refuses to see me..." The dark bird fell quiet, settling itself under Keiran as a makeshift shelter.

"Perhaps because you're always coming to him with tiny bothers, worries, and concerns that are either of no concern or something very easily taken care of." Keiran actually showed a little emotion suddenly, and chuckled, a low, growling sound that sounded a bit like earth moving. "You need to settle down a little, I think, Saravi."

The bird seemed to huff, and try to peck at Keiran's tail as he swished it over his legs. The lion sat up, shaking his head and thoroughly soaked hair and stretching before standing. "Well, Saravi, go tell someone else. If they find it worth worry, maybe the monarch will see you. In a few days." He laughed again, and started away from the hill, walking with his eyes in no specific direction.

Leif had curled up and fallen asleep, his nose quivering at all the different smells that this new area had awakened in the rain. He had heard his brothers leave once the rain had stopped. They didn't wait for him or even say good bye. Just like how his mother had kicked them out of their den. She had transformed and bit them until they bled, running for their lives. He personally liked this goodbye better to that one.

He awoke around midday. It was unusual for hyenas to be awake during the hot days, as they preferred the darkness and cold air of the night. Another thing that made him a strange hyena. His family and clan had always joked that he had been born as another animal entirely.

He stood and stretched, finding some water that had collected in a small hollow near the cave's entrance. He cleaned his hair and ears, then drunk some of the refreshing liquid. His stomach felt empty, so he decided to find something to eat. It was hard for a lone hyena to hunt anything too big, and he disliked eating rotting meat. He also hated murdering any unsuspecting prey. Usually he stuck to eating bugs, too guilty to eat a zebra or antelope.

He walked about the plain, sniffing the ground and taking in all the different scents. He heard his brothers in the far off distance, howling and laughing. It seemed they had successfully killed something and were celebrating in a loud manner. But they seemed so far away. He whined slightly as he continued his journey, moving as far away from his brothers as possible.

He stopped near a bush and hid behind it, watching as a hunting party of lionesses prowled past. He knew that he was down wind from them and they wouldn't be able to smell him. He decided to follow at a distance. Perhaps he could scavenge something off them.

When he came back home that night he had to dry off entirely before entering his small den. It was a quiet thing, far off from the others, and full of pelts from gazelles, soft on the lion no matter the form he or she slept in. Normally groups slept together, sharing warmth, but Keiran didn't necessarily feel he belonged. Those subtle little differences he had... it didn't seem right to sleep in a pile among his kin and friends---if he had real friends instead of those familiar faces he'd sometimes talk with.

He woke early, though he didn't quite know when until he left the den and the tunnels and made it outside. At least for now the rain had cleared. A group of females were readying for a hunt. Keiran liked to hunt. He didn't like to fight, but he liked to track, to prowl, to practice his silent movements. And if he brought something down in the meantime, he'd do that, and bring it back home for the rest. He dove away from the hill and turned, shedding his human skin in favor of the dark golden-tan coat of a young lion, large, thick-padded paws grabbing the earth and almost shifting it under him, its soft, muddy feeling nice to him, even if others felt it would be disgusting and cake up. Of course, that was what the river was for, beyond drinking---cleaning one's dirty paws.

He kept moving with the wind as well as he could as the lioness group left for their hunt. If they caught him they would hurry off or hiss at him for putting their hunt in jeopardy. It was a question he had never had answered: Why did the lower-tier males stay back and rarely hunt alongside the females? He never understood it. He never questioned it, though---no one would have an answer, and he wouldn't be able to see the monarch, not that he'd want to. His mother and father both had named him Keiran because it sounded like the name of a dangerous fighter. They felt that the name would give him a fighter's spirit, which would eventually give him leverage in his fight against the monarch to take the seat of power from him. But for the past three years the monarch had won, and viciously wounded or killed all the challengers. He didn't necessarily want either to happen to him.

Shaking himself, Keiran kept low as he followed the females. If he kept an eye on his paws, he'd not be detected. Kept his tail low but off the ground. his head below the tall grass, nose lifted to follow the wind. It was mostly a game, tempered a little with duty.

They had found a small herd of gazelle, grazing in their animal forms as herbivores tended to do. Perhaps it was out of respect for the lions, leopards and cheetahs. Dying in their animal form would give their predators more to eat and more materials to use than dying in their human forms. Leif watched carefully, enjoying the thrill of the hunt as the lionesses crept closer and closer, before pouncing. They swiftly brought down two males, while the rest of the herd ran away.

One would be for their leader, their king. Leif had found that strange, because in his clan it was a very strong female that was their leader. Rubi really never suited her name. The other that was killed they ate, interrupted only by a few vultures that had landed and started to edge towards the meat.

Leif cautiously made himself known to the lionesses. Hyenas were rare nowadays, but he knew that the lions no longer hunted them. He crept closer, finding comfort in his animal skin. His spotted hide was thick and his jaws strong enough to crunch bones. If he had to defend himself, he could. But he didn't want them to think he was there for a fight. One of the females stopped and looked up at him, giving him a curious look. Perhaps she had never seen a hyena before. They used to be so common around these parts.

Leif was as close to the ground as possible. When he was sighted he stopped moving closer and showed the lionesses respect. He chewed on a stalk of grass as they ignored him and finished their food. As they got up, about to leave with the other gazelle, he came closer. Two had already transformed back to their human selves, into strong and beautiful women. It seemed that they intended to take the leftovers to be used as materials. He whined.

The younger lioness, the one who had originally sighted him, smiled and threw him a piece of the left overs. He jumped up and picked it up in his mouth at once, walking away from them to eat it. He'd hate to think the others would attack him for it.

Keiran loved to see the base of the hunt suddenly shift and raise like what he thought the seas did so far away. He'd never been there, but by seabirds' tales, secondhand on the wings of colorful birds that flew about here, he imagined that it was similar to the climax of a hunt---the way the lions would raise themselves out of the grass after the calm, as if they hadn't existed until that moment, and rising in a mighty wave onto one or two, or sometimes three choices of prey and slamming back down, racing forward in a burst of energy and finally falling onto the end as if nothing had happened. As if some type of magic were at work. He shifted from one foot to the other as he watched the spectacle, lifting his head as it was obvious nothing would spook or run.

He stood, shaking himself as they transformed---that would be at least once today. If they went over the safe number of transformations their bodies would weaken greatly. Keiran's curious nature had forced him to test that none too long ago, and had paid the price in being near comatose for almost three days. No, he didn't want to go about that again. Standing, he started to turn and go a little further away, until the wind shifted and he smelled something different, if a little familiar. Glancing around, Keiran lifted his nose a bit to the wind. Yes, definitely something. Different than raw meat, fur, that little bit of fear that had died down with the stampede of the surviving animals.

He went forward, following the scent out of pure curiosity. He shouldn't have been named to be a dangerous fighter---he was too friendly, in general, so his father had observed more than once. Shaking his head, he followed still, using a flat stone nearby as a step to observe the origin of the smell.

A... hyena. Of course. He was surprised to see the females acting so kindly toward him, considering what had been fed to the lions for years---probably decades now. He was close enough---Keiran sat where he was, observing the hyena. He smelled different than others. Cleaner, maybe... Yes, that was right, cleaner. And he looked much cleaner, too. "It's rare to see one like you so near." Keiran made note, lowering himself down in a loose crouch.

He carried the piece of meat towards the cave, thinking that perhaps he could make a den out of it. He had never planned to join a new clan, and definitely didn't want a wife and children. He'd be lucky to last through the pregnancy. He stopped just outside the small cave, sniffing the area in case the previous tenants had returned. The smell of his brothers still lingered, and that of a snake.

He dropped the meat into the small hollow of water, cleaning it before eating it. When he was done, he curled up at the entrance, staring off into the distance. He had no idea what his new life would bring. What could he do? He whimpered slightly, feeling lonely. That's when he smelt a different scent as the wind changed. He stood and raised his hackles, glancing about nervously. He smelt a lion.

The rain always brings new life. Even after storms of fire, life springs up again in defiance of death. Where once the old stood, the young takes its place in new generations, reviving the world. I like to think of it that way. Maybe the way the young lions challenge the aging monarch---to test his strength. To challenge for their new, youthful sight of the world, to take command. To change things if it was needed. Eradicate old laws for updated ones, elect new visionaries... Maybe I think too much for a male... We're usually blunt and prefer fighting to thinking. No wonder the females are the watchful, organized hunters.

Keiran sighed as he half-followed the scent. He'd seen hyenas before, of course, and he'd smelled them. But this one seemed as different as he'd first appeared. Keiran had left the females to their work before they could see or smell him, and followed in a half-intent manner as the hyena took his gift back to wherever he came from. Perhaps Saravi was onto something when he'd mentioned several hyenas. But the share the females had given the loner was a bit too small to be shared with others. Keiran's overbearing curious nature had him following the scent, eventually standing upright in his two-legged form again. It was less threatening to loners, he'd discovered, because it was slow, rather clumsy, and not armed with sharp claws and teeth and powerful legs for running. He was nearing a bump in the earth, with a few small caves dotted here and there.

Leif retreated into the cave, rolling in dirt to try and hide his scent. He had no idea why he felt so scared. He had just met several lionesses and didn't feel too afraid. Perhaps the risk of it being a lone lion, the type that killed for fun and ate anything they could catch. Those sorts were often fought with, back where his clan lived near a river.

He hid right at the back of the cave, in the darkest corner. He hoped that the smell of his brothers and the leopard would be enough to hide him from the approaching lion. Soon he heard it approaching, moving carefully but purposely. He blinked when he saw it had gone back to its human form. That was strange... Usually lions stayed in their animal forms to be able to fight and kill a hyena more easily. He remained silent, watching it with curiosity.

There were so many smells competing with the one he was trying to follow. The old scent of another cat, and two other, obviously dirty hyenas that shared similar smells to the one he was following originally. But they wandered far off from the cave system. It clung to the smell of water and raw meat, the stone around the mouth of the cave coated in the scent of a clean hyena. He narrowed his eyes, looking deeper into the dark. It seemed to be the longest of the systems, with one large chamber and no smaller ones attached to it in any way.

He cleared his throat to let whomever was inside know he was there, if they weren't already aware. Perhaps they didn't want company, but he couldn't just leave... not now. "Hello...? Forgive my intruding, but... is anyone here?" The scent was strong, if tempered a little for unknown reasons. He could smell a little water standing in the cave, so perhaps that was what had diluted the scent as a whole.

Leif's ears pricked up at the voice. Why was the lion wanting to talk to him? It had to be a trick. He silently changed back to his own human form, finding that it was easier to hide his scent. He had always made sure to bathe daily, so that he rarely even smelt like a hyena. It used to annoy his mother and his brothers had always teased him about it. He didn't care what they thought, he refused to smell of rotting meat and bad body odour.

He covered his mouth, to try and stop himself from being tempted to reply. Perhaps the lion would go away if he continued to pretend he wasn't there.

There---the scent changed. Keiran tilted his head, staring into the dark near the back of the cave. He could see in the dark, of course, like all cats, their eyes reflective and often what tipped prey off to their presence, if they were alert enough at night to look for the two watchful orbs shining greenish-white or yellow when the moon was out to tint the colors they might see. Now there was a little sunlight shining through a break in the clouds before the rain overtook the world again---and would for at least a week after---and Keiran's eyes shone, dimming as he stepped a little further into the cave.

He could see the shadow. No wonder the scent had changed---so had the owner of the scent. "I won't harm you." He assured the figure. "I'd just like to see you." He gritted his teeth. It sounded so stupid... Why would anyone trust him? A hyena, especially, trusting a lion. After what tensions had developed over the decades, there was no doubt even unthreatening Keiran would be distrusted by a lone hyena.

The lion could see him, Leif was sure of that. He had heard that a lion's eyesight was just as good as a hyena's. He decided that hiding wouldn't work. He crouched, readying himself to transform in case he had to fight. "L-Leave me alone! I warn you... I'll attack!" he wished his voice, which echoed about the cave, sounded more brave. Right now, he felt like a toddler. So weak and helpless in front of the powerful lion.

He trembled and moved as close to the wall as he could. "Never attack a cornered hyena!" he warned, growling slightly. He couldn't help but to think he probably sounded like a puppy to the lion. So helpless and weak.

Such a cub-like sound in his voice, there was no way he could be serious---but then again, he probably was. Keiran wasn't angry or stalking, though, it would have been evident. There were specific scent signatures one could pick up depending on state of mind. "Why would I attack?" He called back, sitting on a small, naturally made shelf on the wall of the cave. "If I wanted to, surely I'd have done it before now. Right?" The line of logic was just too obvious. And he wasn't even in his animal form---if he'd tried to attack he wouldn't have gone about using up one of his changes to take on his human form again. It was to calm whatever might feel threatened.

I found you watching in on the hunt. I was just curious about you. Curious, rather than murderous." He chuckled at the words. He wasn't a savage---he had to have a reason to attack, and never did so without provocation, even if it was a hyena. After all, they weren't a threat. And Keiran had realized at a young age that not all species conformed to the norm.

Leif stopped growling and sat down, biting his nails as he often did when he felt nervous. The lion did have a point, but he still couldn't trust him. "Curious about what?" he asked, his voice trembling still. He gulped. All his life he had wanted to meet a lion, and here he was, trembling like a pup in front of one. "I know my kind aren't very common around this area, am I the first one you've met? I've never seen a lion before."

He wondered why he was still talking to the threat. Instead he should be fleeing, running back to his clan and staying there like a good hyena.

Keiran smiled, and leaned forward, stretching out on the shelf on his stomach in a relaxed pose. If he had to move quickly, it would allow him. "Curious about you." He replied lightly. "I've seen and encountered hyenas before, sometimes groups of three or four, sometimes alone. Not often, of course, perhaps several times... I was curious about you because you seemed different. I simply followed the hunting party, and caught the scent of... something different. A hyena, but at the same time, not. You lack the filth and rot and accumulated odor of a hyena. And you're certainly not as brash as they generally tend to be."

And at the same time, Keiran was the odd one. He thought too much, saw meaning in little things that others would pass off. He didn't curse the gods when they did something, but rather thought it as some kind of step in the right direction. "My name is Keiran." He offered. Giving one's name was a matter of trust, and he trusted this hyena enough.

"Keiran..." Leif muttered, thinking the name sounded regal and brave. It suited a lion, but didn't seem to suit this one. Curious, friendly... Leif had never heard of a lion being like this. Perhaps Keiran was still a child, even though he seemed like a young male like himself.

"My name is... Sh... Leif," he said quietly, relaxing slightly now that the lion truly did seem to only want to talk. He shifted his weight cautiously, watching the lion lounge on a small rocky shelf on the side of the cave. He wanted Keiran to go away and leave him alone, but... It felt nice to talk to someone that didn't tease him or try to kill him. "Do you live on that hill?" he asked, nodding towards the distance.

Leif? It didn't sound like a hyena name. In fact, it sounded more like a lion's name. Or perhaps the name of one of the monarch's many bird associates. Either way, it seemed as if he'd named himself and was just getting used to using it. He looked around to where Leif nodded to. "I... suppose you could call it living." He muttered. "I seem to exist there, most of the time. I don't like it. Lions are... so worried about honor and respect. It's not uncommon to see me far, far away from them. Doing something they wouldn't feel a male lion should do. Like thinking more than it takes to remember to breathe."

Not even the holymen thought much. They blindly followed rather than considering steps certain points took. Or saw nature at face value. He looked around to Leif. "I apologize, I... may have overstayed my welcome." He stood, stretching. "I understand you may prefer being alone." He nodded his head to the hyena, and turned, sweeping his tail across the loose dirt as he left in a half-hearted attempt to leave a little of his own scent, a habit he'd picked up some time ago.

Leif stood, not sure what he was doing. Every part of his being was screaming at him to just let Keiran leave so he wouldn't be in danger. Yet, he didn't want to be left alone. He had always wanted to talk to a lion, after all. "You don't have to go..." he said, moving from the safety of the back of the cave. "I'd enjoy someone to talk to... Someone... Like... A friend..."

He looked at his bare feet shyly, blushing at how bluntly he had said it. "I'm different too... Hyenas like fighting and laughing... I..." He shifted again and looked up at the thoughtful lion. "I guess we are both misfits."

Keiran stopped a little too quickly, but didn't mind his nature to retain his dignity. The thought of someone else... different... and taking a little of the edge off his different mindset and generally odd behavior. He turned to face the hyena as he came into a more lighted segment of the cave, and smiled. "I suppose being a misfit wouldn't be so bad if you have someone to share it with." He replied. "But if you ask me, being different isn't so bad."

He found a seat again, but this time curled his legs underneath himself and wound his tail around his feet. "I... understand hyenas can be hated because of their life choices. And their nature. It's odd to find one that takes care of themselves, or doesn't sneak in to scavenge what another animal kills. Is that why you're alone now?" he tilted his head, something he usually did, generally, mostly in curiosity.

"My brothers wanted to find a new clan. We heard that there was a large one to the west... I only followed to get away from Mother. She was ready to birth a new litter, so she made us leave... In the way that hyena mothers do..." He showed his bandaged arm, the blood still staining the soft material made of bark. "I just wanted to leave and... Maybe..." He cut himself off before he could complete his sentence. How could he possibly tell the lion that he wanted to live with them?

"My brothers left me last night, after the storm. I'm glad to be rid of them, honestly..."

Keiran grimaced, shaking his head at the bandage. He'd heard of hyenas' vicious tendencies toward their young, and knew of the hierarchy of power within their groups and clans. Females were the ones in power, and males were second class citizens, often abandoned or kicked out of their own clans for reasons that could often be unclear. "Well, in that case, I can understand your desire to get away from your brothers---if they're as bad as the norm." Smelly, rotten meat-eaters, bothersome and vicious creatures that sometimes attacked for fun, and attacked each other more often than they should.

"I know that... hyenas are unwelcome here. They're no longer hunted like in the past, but are only barely tolerated. I think you could survive here... I could help. If you would accept my help, that is---I would understand if you don't." He understood that many carnivores didn't like to accept help from others of a different species. That was especially true for lions and hyenas.

Keiran would help? Leif appreciated these words. Perhaps, since he was different from the others, he could live in harmony with the lions. The lioness that had given him the meat seemed to like him. He shook his head. To think about a lioness caring for him... It was silly. "I give you all my respect, Keiran, sir," he said, trying to flatter the lion. Of course he did respect him. More than his own mother.

"Perhaps we could be friends?" he asked timidly, poking at the ground with his finger. He half expected the lion to laugh at the thought.

Keiran wrinkled his nose at the words. "Don't talk like that." He said rather sternly, giving the hyena a bit of a scolding look. "I'm no 'sir'. I'm Keiran, not much, and not that close to the top." Being called 'sir'. It felt horribly formal, much too formal for him. He was no one, truly---the pride could function without him, wouldn't miss him if he were gone. That fact had been demonstrated when he vanished for a few days once, and none had come looking for him. Beyond his mother, who had only asked where he'd been.

"Friends don't call friends 'sir', anyway." He added. "And only give respect when it's earned. I don't want you to see me as anything... other than what I am at face value. Not what I am. I prefer knowing someone based on who they are." That was why he didn't curse the hyena without knowing who they were, individually. But most of the time he was right in judging them from a distance.