Username: -Willow
Name: Akeno
Name Pronunciation: ah-KAY-noh
Name Meaning:
behindthename.com wrote:a Japanese, masculine name meaning
"in the morning" or "bright, shining field"
Gender: Male
Rank: Warrior; Sub Category Distraction
While I myself see no point in this war, I must fight in it. I was given the rank of a warrior among the traditionalists, more specifically a 'distraction'. I am the second line of defense in battle and use my element of reflection to allow for an attack on the 'enemy' from the true warriors. I have to think fast. When I am able to, I deflect attacks with the opposing element.
Personality:
Akeno is not the most active of lions. He is rather quiet and reserved, keeping a calmness about him. He has never lived before the time of the Blood Moon, only knowing of war and death, and is rather quite curious of what the world has- a world of peace and prosperity. To him, there is no point in the fighting, he knows that both sides could have come to some form of an agreement.
In truth, he sees the points of both sides and agrees. There is room for change and improvement, but that the old ways should not be strayed too far from. Not every lion can have the ability of time, and those lions are once in a life-time. Because of this, he has decided to support neither side. The fact that they delved to quickly into war, makes them both wrong.
He is rather idealistic and a realist. He wants to know all there is to know about what choices he is given before making any of of a decision. Which is what took him so long to choose which side to 'belong to'. He is painfully honest, making him come off as rather grumpy and pessimistic. He is very protective, though, wanting to shelter the few he is close to from harm and from the war. This mean lies as well.
When talking to others, Akeno doesn't often make eye contact. It is unknown why, but it does make him uncomfortable to be looking into another's eyes. They say the eyes are a window to the soul, and if this is true, he does not want to know another's true being.
Story:
There was no 'start' for me. There was no 'birth' or any parents. I do not know what it is like to have been a 'cub' or to have been loved. I only know the call of turmoil and war. My beginning was quick and instantaneous. The gate from which I emerged appeared behind me as my being was formed from the smoke that seeped from it. I can remember the feeling of being formed- a feeling a share with very few others. It was strange, almost like a gentle breeze swirling around me as I stepped forth. Honestly? It was a feeling I would feel again and again. Feeling of being created forthwith.
I was greeted with the sight of lions, more than I had ever seen, in armour of gold and silver and bronze and glistening in blood. Blood spilled by their own. I knew at that moment that I was not one of them. I redirected my gaze from them all to look ahead of me. I noticed others who were adorned in crimson fur, much like that of the blood that coated the lions' armours around me. I wondered if I resembled the same color. Seeing the looks from others, I knew I did. There was one lion who's fur looked like that of the fallen warriors- a skeleton. I had to suppress a shudder at the sight.
I made my way over to them, joining the lions were as pure as myself- or so they seemed. They had not yet taken a part in this war, this needless feuding. I would follow which ever they chose, so long as it did not involve the worthlessness of all this fighting. I knew so many lives had been lost. Loved ones and mates. Fathers and children. It pained me.
I sat among the others of the Blood Moon, daring not to mingle with the other lions, in silence as the rest of our kind emerged. I wondered briefly if they had experienced what I had. Once the gate closed and the smoke dispersed, I rose to my paws, feeling them wobble slightly, and turned away.
I ignored all calls to me by the lions. They were dead to me. I planned to stay only long enough to hear what the others of the Blood moon planned to do, then I would leave. I would make my own way, discovering my own world. I would protect those harmed in this war- the innocent. They did not deserve to be burdened or wounded in the violence.
I could feel that my ability, my power, was different from the rest. I did not feel as though fire flowed through my veins or that water washed constantly at my paws. I did not have wings to fly with or the sharp ears of what was know as a tracker. I felt none of that. What I did feel, was the tug at my paws try them all. I do not know why the idea came to my mind, I was not an ambitious lion, but it did. What was even crazier was that I followed through with it. I glanced at a tiny, wilting plant. Clearly trampled by paws. I turned to face it, touching my nose to it. I felt a swarm of energy flow through me and watched as the tiny plant began to rise back up with life.
That small action lead to my attempting of many more. I soon and quickly discovered my ability to manipulate the four base elements- water, earth, fire and air. It was a surprise to learn that I was the one and only lion with gift of, as it was dubbed, reflection. I was able to mimic other lions' elements and use them as my own. At least for a bit. It more than disheartening to learn that I needed other lions to all but live. That I needed to fight in the war I found pointless to use my special abilities.
After weighing the opinions of each of the feuding sides, I chose my company. I 'sided' with the lions who called themselves the 'traditionalists'. The way they lived had created these lands, and I believed they would continue to keep it standing.
Armor:
Rough Sketch