Link to cat(s) or lion(s) involved in prompt: Sen, Rei, Varjo, Marlevort
Link to their pride or group: Night Watch | Purradise Lost
Prompt level completion: 5
Prompt:
A small procession of champions followed the old lion through the tunnels. Among them was Rei who complained loudly throughout the whole way to anyone who would listen to him. Sen undertood and shared his worry. Did they really have time to be watering plants when really they should be training and planning strategies for the next attack, which would inevitably come soon? But he did not complain because he could see the benefits of doing some different labour for a while. Manual, physical work would let their minds rest when they would have to push their worries aside to focus on the plants, even if for just a short bit. It was the best time to think too, when you got your paws dirty by digging, your thoughts were free to wander.
When they reached the gardens they were all surprised to see how many and how abundant with greenery they were. When he heard they’d be planting saplings, Rei imagined an empty field where they would have to dig holes for them. Instead, there were orchards, bushes, fresh growing vegetables and medicinal herbs.
They were assigned areas and Sen was quite happy that he was separated from Rei. His constant nagging and complaining would not have made this experience any more pleasant. As he stood by the fresh dirt where he was supposed to plant his saplings, he realised that he never had any experience with gardening. When they lived in the savanna some of the lionesses of his pride pride to decorate it with flowers, but it was too sandy and dry and all of their attempts failed. He planned to grow some nice flora in the new area, but he never imagined himself doing it. He would delegate it to someone more suited. Like, literally anyone else. He did not have that luxury here. He’d have to get his own paws dirty.
He looked at the neighbours to his right and left and observed what they did, then tried copying them with mixed results.-----
Varjo listened to the speech along with Marlevort and their other two companions. He was hoping it would clear out some questions that were beginning to rise in his head, but it only added more. Immortality, life and death. All very complex subjects that he never before had to consider. His heart was telling him that the goddess of the Trinity Tree was good and kind and cared for the felines living this land. She only wanted best for them. However, that wasn’t always what they needed.
The Tree of Decay had a point. The circle of life should be kept. That’s how it’s always been and how it always will be. If it was interrupted, what could possibly happen? Would it lead to great, endless wars where neither side could ever die so they would fight for eternity? That seemed silly. They were bound to come to reason after a century or two out of pure exhaust. But what else could it mean? Would lions still age, but simply be unable to ever die? He imagined his captain, an old lion with much of his hair and teeth already fallen out, who slept for most of the days (and that really was the best part of him) and who was purely nasty when awake. He shuddered. He never wanted to look or act like that old man. To think he would spend eternity like that… He shuddered again. Also, most importantly, would that mean that if there was no death there would also be no new life?
All of that made his head start to ache. He turned to his companions and noticed Marlevort walking away. He run after him and stopped him.
- Where are you going?
- Back to the tree.
- What? Why?
Marlevort waved his tail lazily.
- I do not agree with this god. I have made my decision. You should too.
And with those words he walked away. The small cat and spiky-maned lioness caught up to Varjo. They stuck with him this whole time despite their captain not being here. He appreciated that. It was nice to have a familiar face to talk to, even through they were only familiar for a few days.
- Are you going too?
The lioness shook her head, but the cat only shrugged.
- Yeah… - his eyes followed the slowly disappearing silhouette of Marlevort. - I feel like I should stay. But I can’t imagine what will happen if this god wants us to fight the forces of the goddess. I cannot fight Rei, he’ll kill me!
The lioness nodded in agreement, which did not make him feel any better.
- But if we do stay… we can learn more about this side. And about the goddess. - His ears perked up a little, for the first time since coming here. - Maybe this is a good idea. We’ll gather information and turn it to Sen. Before it comes to any fighting, maybe with our knowledge combined we’ll figure out how to stop this whole mess - he looked for approval in the eyes of his companions. None came. - You see, my captain, he already stopped one war. Maybe he can stop another. Yes, that’s it - he was talking himself into the idea. - We’ll be like spies! - he looked around, concerned, and spoke again, this time in a whisper. - We’ll be like spies.
- I will stay. The circle of life has been present since the beginning of time. It should stay this way. We, as lions, make sure of that. The goddess is wrong.
The lioness seemed certain in her decision, unlike Varjo or apparently, the smaller cat. She only sighed and sat down, looking a little bit down and confused.
- I don’t want to go back all the way alone, so I’ll stay.
Varjo gave her an uncertain, but encouraging smile.
- I’m glad. It will be much easier to do this with you two here with me - then he added, with a hint of a joke - I hope I never become captain. Making decisions is not for me.
[ 1010 words ]
