[PRP] Cub Days (Tunzo & Kizev)

[mouselet]

He was getting more and more accustomed to being without 'Dama. That didn't keep the cub from missing his twin dearly, but he was learning that he did not require her to do everything. He still preferred to let her do the talking, however, which tended to make many of his encounters with others a bit awkward.

Dad was okay with it though. Kivuli said he'd find his tongue when he was ready. This comforted Kizev, and made it clear that they had the best father in the whole world. He always knew just what to say and could make anyone feel better.

Kizev had heard there were new babies somewhere around here, and he was curious. He was still a cub, but there were cubs even smaller than he was in the Mwezi'Johari. It was sort of disconcerting, but very interesting too.  

[Vesale]

This was the first time Tunzo's mum had EVER let him go out on his own. He didn't know she was watching, he just couldn't see her. It was exciting. He was a big, strong, independent cub! At least that was what his mother told him. He wasn't quite sure what all those words meant yet. Still, he was eager to get out and explore the lands.

The brown and big cub was rather round for his age, and his coordination was still coming along, so when he walked, it wasn't uncommon to see the odd little trip up. It didn't phase him though, he was the only boy in the litter, so it was his responsibility to protect his family, he had decided. That was what the man did. He grew up big and strong to protect.

So he set one foot after the other, out of his den to explore outside. He stood in the entrance for a moment. Woah, it was huge.  

[mouselet]

He was walking past lots of dens, and he didn't know who lived in any of them. He didn't even know if there were cubs in any of them. But...hey! There was a cub! Another boy! Not that girls were bad, but he had a lot of half-sisters now and while Kizev didn't mind 'Dama at all, the rest of the sisters kind of got on his nerves a little. Maybe because they weren't twins. Maybe because they had lots of pink on them. No one could really say.

The stranger cub looked a little confused, a little overwhelmed and a little lost. So Kizev decided he should go help the little guy feel more welcome. Okay, maybe he wasn't so little, the older lion decided as he got closer. This cub was almost as big as he was, and he was small for his age! But there was something in the way the other cub moved that made Kizev sure he wasn't very old.

"Hi," he offered to the other lion.  

[Vesale]

Tunzo didn't notice the other cub until he offered his hello, he was too busy checking everything out. There was so much to see! Oh hey, a cub!

"Hello!" he said cheerily. Tunzo was a rather outgoing cub, he had no problem chatting away with his mother and sisters, or to any of the big lions that came into the den. He'd never met another cub though. Well, he knew his sisters. But they didn't count.

"You a cub too!" He said, with a little too much excitement. His first friend, he could feel it. His speech was still developing, but he knew enough words to hold a somewhat decent conversation for a cub of his age.

"Friend!" He exclaimed as he waddled closer to the other cub.  

[mouselet]

"Uh...yeah," he agreed. He was a cub too. Wasn't that obvious? Well...he supposed it was kind of obvious if even this kid could tell. Kizev wasn't sure, but he thought the younger lion might not be the brightest ray of sunshine around. Then again, that could be because he seemed so very young.

"I guess so," was the reply to the exclamation 'friend.' Pale purple eyes widened as the younger cub began moving towards him. Kizev inadvertently took a step back. What did the kid want from him?

"Shouldn't you stay in the den?" he asked, sure the he'd never wandered around when he was that young. It might have even been true, considering that he'd been afraid of everything but his sister and his father at that point.  

[Vesale]

mouselet

Just remembered this... orz

"I am old enough to go out alone, friend!" came the cubs reply. Tunzo nodded vigorously. He glanced back at the den. Was this as far out as out could be? He wasn't sure. Maybe he should ask his new friend.

"Is this out?" he asked, wondering if he could determine just where out was.

"I am Tunzo," he added as an after thought. He sat down and looked at his new friend, wondering what he was called. Maybe it was Tunzo too!  

[mouselet]

Kizev continued backing away as the cub came closer. The littler male, Tunzo, was...very eager. Or something. And kept insisting that he was a friend. Didn't it take longer to make friends?

"Uh...Kizev," the older cub introduced himself finally. "Shouldn't you know how far out you are?" he continued, trying to direct the conversation (and the cub) in such a way that would hopefully allow him to escape and go back home. Or to 'Dama. Either would be good.  

[Vesale]

"Kisev! My new best friend!" exclaimed Tunzo excitedly. He beamed at his new best friend, happy to have found him! His back legs squirmed while he sat. He obviously wanted to run up and pounce his new friend but he was afraid of going farther than out. He didn't want to make his mother angry, even if he had found a new friend!

"Mother said, don't go too far out!" he explained, like that was a reasonable answer to his question.

"I think this is as far as out is," he nodded sagely.  

[mouselet]

"Uh...okay," the older cub responded lamely. He really had no idea what to do with Tunzo. The younger male was...well...very excited. A lot more than Kizev. And his words were almost nonsense. Which made it hard to figure out what he meant.

"Look, if that's as far out as you can go, then stay there. I'm, uh...going home," Kizev told the boy before turning tail and not quite running away.

Where was 'Dama when he needed her to save him from babies?