HOME | DD

Description

Shoka sat with his brother, the pain and fear of losing him finally breaking the stone cold mold that was Ironside. The shamans had said there was nothing they could do, the blood mystic had confirmed it, and now only Shoka was allowed to be with his brother in his final moments. The king of the Uvamizi coughed loudly, hacking up more phlegm from his throat. After his fit, he sighed and laughed as best he could.
“Y’know… I always knew I’d die this way.”
“You are not going to die, Isando…” Shoka replied, his voice cracking as he said his brother’s name.
“Quiet Shoka, we both know it’s happening. The seer told me back when I was a boy.”
Now this intrigued Shoka. “What do you mean the seer told you?”
Isando sighed, “Right after Avi and father died. I asked the seer if I would die in battle to see them again. The seer, he laughed and said I would not die in battle, but I would find my way to Utukufu.” He chuckled, “Only clear answer the old man ever gave me.”
Shoka smiled, at least his brother would see their mother again as well. “He told me that mother had made it to Utukufu as well.” And with that Isando’s eyes widened for a split second, had he not known?
“That… that is soothing to hear. Our mother was a fierce warrior, she deserves it.”
As do you…
The two brothers sat in silence for awhile, the dying king coughing whenever he got the chance. Isando looked awful, and yet he wasn't in pain. Shoka couldn’t imagine what his brother was going through, looking so calm as he lay there dying. The male sighed and pressed his head to his paws, the bones in his beard clinking softly together as they oft did.The king chuckled -as best he could- and pointed shaikly at the bones.
“You gonna replace those with mine? Like Avi did to mother?”
“And let your sorry ass haunt me for the rest of my life?” Shoka quipped back, trying to form a smile on his face. Shoka was the only family, nay, the only true family he had left. Uru was still in the homelands as a slave, and his insufferable nephew was only going to be a thorn in his side for the rest of his life. The Matsara sighed, “Do you truly wish me to?”
Isando thought for a moment and shook his head, “No, I guess not. I’ll need all my bones when I arrive in Utukufu. I supposed mother’s missing a tooth since da’ used to wear it in his ear.”
Yes, that was right, their father did wear their mother’s tooth in his ear. And Avikele, her bones, he said they were from her tail, but Shoka didn’t question that fully. Isando pulled him out of his thoughts though as he wrangled with his oath bracelet. Even the king wore one, and seeing him without it felt, strange. The bone hit the cave floor with a clink, and Isando pushed it aside, almost regretting ever doing so.
“You make sure that goes to my boy, Shoka. You promise me that.”
Shoka was, shocked, to say the least. But he gingerly pushed the bracelet close to him and nodded. “I promise.”
Isando nodded, “Father’s oath bracelet was lost to us, but mother’s and Avi’s I’ve kept close, hidden from the pride. They should be yours.”
Shoka’s eyes widened, “Where are they?”
Isando smiled, “I asked the seer to hide them wherever she keeps the dye for the slaves.” Shoka’s eyes looked back down to the bracelet in his paws. His brother’s was as smooth as they came, just like his own, Asger didn’t deserve it. But he had made a promise.
The king sighed almost as if he had read Shoka’s thoughts, “I don’t know where I went wrong with him.” Shoka’s eyes quickly shot up and looked into his brother’s, so he had known after all… “All he does is brood all day. I tried, Shoka, I tried to be a father. Maybe that’s why I never had another child, because I failed with my first boy.”
“It’s not your fault brother, perhaps there’s too much of his mother in him.”
Isando looked the the ground, avoiding eye contact with his brother. “Aye,” he finally said, “Perhaps there is too much Njaela in him. After the death of her girl… She hasn’t been right.”
That name. Njaela. Shoka’s eyes widened.
“You mean to tell me-”
“Yes.”
“But that means that-”
“Yes.”
“And how you kept-”
“Yes Shoka! Yes. Now enough about his mother.”
Shoka’s head was swirling with his brother’s deathbed confession,and he knew he would have to speak with a certain lioness at a later date. But enough of that, it was time to focus on his brother. And yet again, his brother’s guilt about his son came through.
“I failed my boy, Shoka. He’s more like those Mateso brats we just raided than an Uvamizi. I fear the Gods do not walk with him.”
“Perhaps you can speak to the Gods on that matter then? When you reach Utukufu?” but Isando shook his head. A more violent cough ripped through his body and shook Shoka to his very core. He tried to reach over and comfort his brother, but Isando shook his paw and head no.
“Promise me, Shoka, promise me you’ll try to right my wrongs. Promise me you’ll teach that boy to be a true Uvamizi. He is the son of Scourge, damn it! It’s time he starts acting like it. He has the lineage of legends in his blood, Avi said he could trace us all the way back to Jasiri the Boneless! I…” Isando paused, trying to suck in as much oxygen as he could. His brother was fading fast, and Shoka did not want to see him die.
Not yet.
“Promise me, Shoka, just promise me you won’t let him forget he's my son. The son of Scourge. The son of Uvamizi.”
Shoka wanted to stay silent, he did not want to deal with his insufferable nephew any longer than he had been. But if he had to give him his father’s oath bracelet, then perhaps he could teach him along the way.
“Aye, brother, I promise.”
Isando smiled, “Good, good.” His breath deepened as he felt his life slipping from him. He looked to his brother, “You know, you’ll make a good king, Shoka.” The male shook his head. “I don’t want to be king.” But Isando closed his eyes, “And that’s what will make you the best king. Have your many sons, brother, spring forth a new dynasty. What shall you call it, the line of Ironside?”
Shoka shook his head, “The line of Scourge seems better don’t you think?”
But Isando didn’t answer him, and his breath slowed almost to a halt. “I-Isa?” Shoka’s voice broke and a cubbish tone came to it. His eyes filled with tears as he crawled forward, embracing him as the tears flowed down his face.
“We will see each other again, brother.”
The voice, it wasn’t Isando’s per say, but it was a mix of his brother’s and Avikele’s. Was his mind playing tricks on him? Was his brother’s spirit still lingering here? Were they both? The male sobbed into his brother’s still body, soaking the dark fur with his tears. His brother was gone, his only remaining brother was gone… Shoka was the last of Kisu’s line alive, he and Ibu being the last legitimate members of Ngao’s. He didn’t want it to end this way.
Not like this.
Shoka knew now that the reign of king had to pass to someone, and Asger still was not an adult. It had to fall to him. He stood, his brother’s body lay with a soft smile on his face, and Shoka hardened into Ironside once more. He took his brother’s oath bracelet and slipped it onto his other leg, he wouldn’t let his brother down. He would have to face his pride now, yes, his pride. Shoka exited the den, his face a complete mess, and the pride looked to him now. His eyes met Aasira’s, they met Askari’s, now his Matsara. It was Aasira that realized what had happened first.
She stood, walking forward and positioning herself to Shoka’s right, motioning for Askari to do the same. The male stood to his left, and Shoka now felt small in the world. Someone is always with the king. He would have to fill the position now, damn it… He looked to Aasira, and with the knowledge he had now he’d have to tell her. But, he would have to wait until they got home. Isando’s body needed to be buried in his homelands, or else his soul would never truly enter the halls of Utukufu. It was Aasira’s words the called out into the distance, it was Aasira’s words that the pride answered, and it was Aasira’s words that he feared the most.
“Hail, King Shoka!”

RIP Isando, you were my favorite npc to draw. <3 Isando's death is officially an infection from a wound, most likely assumed to be given by Mahali.

With Shoka's ascension to the throne, that means the position of Matsara will be opening up, more information will come on that at a later date.

Also special mention to for this: sta.sh/0jbj0kh6f4j

Horns Earned: 43 (Half Body + Complex BG + Extra Half Body + Extra Half Body + 1500 Word Short Story)

Shoka belongs to me!
Aasira belongs to
Askari belongs to

Description

Shoka sat with his brother, the pain and fear of losing him finally breaking the stone cold mold that was Ironside. The shamans had said there was nothing they could do, the blood mystic had confirmed it, and now only Shoka was allowed to be with his brother in his final moments. The king of the Uvamizi coughed loudly, hacking up more phlegm from his throat. After his fit, he sighed and laughed as best he could.
“Y’know… I always knew I’d die this way.”
“You are not going to die, Isando…” Shoka replied, his voice cracking as he said his brother’s name.
“Quiet Shoka, we both know it’s happening. The seer told me back when I was a boy.”
Now this intrigued Shoka. “What do you mean the seer told you?”
Isando sighed, “Right after Avi and father died. I asked the seer if I would die in battle to see them again. The seer, he laughed and said I would not die in battle, but I would find my way to Utukufu.” He chuckled, “Only clear answer the old man ever gave me.”
Shoka smiled, at least his brother would see their mother again as well. “He told me that mother had made it to Utukufu as well.” And with that Isando’s eyes widened for a split second, had he not known?
“That… that is soothing to hear. Our mother was a fierce warrior, she deserves it.”
As do you…
The two brothers sat in silence for awhile, the dying king coughing whenever he got the chance. Isando looked awful, and yet he wasn't in pain. Shoka couldn’t imagine what his brother was going through, looking so calm as he lay there dying. The male sighed and pressed his head to his paws, the bones in his beard clinking softly together as they oft did.The king chuckled -as best he could- and pointed shaikly at the bones.
“You gonna replace those with mine? Like Avi did to mother?”
“And let your sorry ass haunt me for the rest of my life?” Shoka quipped back, trying to form a smile on his face. Shoka was the only family, nay, the only true family he had left. Uru was still in the homelands as a slave, and his insufferable nephew was only going to be a thorn in his side for the rest of his life. The Matsara sighed, “Do you truly wish me to?”
Isando thought for a moment and shook his head, “No, I guess not. I’ll need all my bones when I arrive in Utukufu. I supposed mother’s missing a tooth since da’ used to wear it in his ear.”
Yes, that was right, their father did wear their mother’s tooth in his ear. And Avikele, her bones, he said they were from her tail, but Shoka didn’t question that fully. Isando pulled him out of his thoughts though as he wrangled with his oath bracelet. Even the king wore one, and seeing him without it felt, strange. The bone hit the cave floor with a clink, and Isando pushed it aside, almost regretting ever doing so.
“You make sure that goes to my boy, Shoka. You promise me that.”
Shoka was, shocked, to say the least. But he gingerly pushed the bracelet close to him and nodded. “I promise.”
Isando nodded, “Father’s oath bracelet was lost to us, but mother’s and Avi’s I’ve kept close, hidden from the pride. They should be yours.”
Shoka’s eyes widened, “Where are they?”
Isando smiled, “I asked the seer to hide them wherever she keeps the dye for the slaves.” Shoka’s eyes looked back down to the bracelet in his paws. His brother’s was as smooth as they came, just like his own, Asger didn’t deserve it. But he had made a promise.
The king sighed almost as if he had read Shoka’s thoughts, “I don’t know where I went wrong with him.” Shoka’s eyes quickly shot up and looked into his brother’s, so he had known after all… “All he does is brood all day. I tried, Shoka, I tried to be a father. Maybe that’s why I never had another child, because I failed with my first boy.”
“It’s not your fault brother, perhaps there’s too much of his mother in him.”
Isando looked the the ground, avoiding eye contact with his brother. “Aye,” he finally said, “Perhaps there is too much Njaela in him. After the death of her girl… She hasn’t been right.”
That name. Njaela. Shoka’s eyes widened.
“You mean to tell me-”
“Yes.”
“But that means that-”
“Yes.”
“And how you kept-”
“Yes Shoka! Yes. Now enough about his mother.”
Shoka’s head was swirling with his brother’s deathbed confession,and he knew he would have to speak with a certain lioness at a later date. But enough of that, it was time to focus on his brother. And yet again, his brother’s guilt about his son came through.
“I failed my boy, Shoka. He’s more like those Mateso brats we just raided than an Uvamizi. I fear the Gods do not walk with him.”
“Perhaps you can speak to the Gods on that matter then? When you reach Utukufu?” but Isando shook his head. A more violent cough ripped through his body and shook Shoka to his very core. He tried to reach over and comfort his brother, but Isando shook his paw and head no.
“Promise me, Shoka, promise me you’ll try to right my wrongs. Promise me you’ll teach that boy to be a true Uvamizi. He is the son of Scourge, damn it! It’s time he starts acting like it. He has the lineage of legends in his blood, Avi said he could trace us all the way back to Jasiri the Boneless! I…” Isando paused, trying to suck in as much oxygen as he could. His brother was fading fast, and Shoka did not want to see him die.
Not yet.
“Promise me, Shoka, just promise me you won’t let him forget he's my son. The son of Scourge. The son of Uvamizi.”
Shoka wanted to stay silent, he did not want to deal with his insufferable nephew any longer than he had been. But if he had to give him his father’s oath bracelet, then perhaps he could teach him along the way.
“Aye, brother, I promise.”
Isando smiled, “Good, good.” His breath deepened as he felt his life slipping from him. He looked to his brother, “You know, you’ll make a good king, Shoka.” The male shook his head. “I don’t want to be king.” But Isando closed his eyes, “And that’s what will make you the best king. Have your many sons, brother, spring forth a new dynasty. What shall you call it, the line of Ironside?”
Shoka shook his head, “The line of Scourge seems better don’t you think?”
But Isando didn’t answer him, and his breath slowed almost to a halt. “I-Isa?” Shoka’s voice broke and a cubbish tone came to it. His eyes filled with tears as he crawled forward, embracing him as the tears flowed down his face.
“We will see each other again, brother.”
The voice, it wasn’t Isando’s per say, but it was a mix of his brother’s and Avikele’s. Was his mind playing tricks on him? Was his brother’s spirit still lingering here? Were they both? The male sobbed into his brother’s still body, soaking the dark fur with his tears. His brother was gone, his only remaining brother was gone… Shoka was the last of Kisu’s line alive, he and Ibu being the last legitimate members of Ngao’s. He didn’t want it to end this way.
Not like this.
Shoka knew now that the reign of king had to pass to someone, and Asger still was not an adult. It had to fall to him. He stood, his brother’s body lay with a soft smile on his face, and Shoka hardened into Ironside once more. He took his brother’s oath bracelet and slipped it onto his other leg, he wouldn’t let his brother down. He would have to face his pride now, yes, his pride. Shoka exited the den, his face a complete mess, and the pride looked to him now. His eyes met Aasira’s, they met Askari’s, now his Matsara. It was Aasira that realized what had happened first.
She stood, walking forward and positioning herself to Shoka’s right, motioning for Askari to do the same. The male stood to his left, and Shoka now felt small in the world. Someone is always with the king. He would have to fill the position now, damn it… He looked to Aasira, and with the knowledge he had now he’d have to tell her. But, he would have to wait until they got home. Isando’s body needed to be buried in his homelands, or else his soul would never truly enter the halls of Utukufu. It was Aasira’s words the called out into the distance, it was Aasira’s words that the pride answered, and it was Aasira’s words that he feared the most.
“Hail, King Shoka!”

RIP Isando, you were my favorite npc to draw. <3 Isando's death is officially an infection from a wound, most likely assumed to be given by Mahali.

With Shoka's ascension to the throne, that means the position of Matsara will be opening up, more information will come on that at a later date.

Also special mention to for this: sta.sh/0jbj0kh6f4j

Horns Earned: 43 (Half Body + Complex BG + Extra Half Body + Extra Half Body + 1500 Word Short Story)

Shoka belongs to me!
Aasira belongs to
Askari belongs to