It had been a long time - a very long time, long enough that some part of Sena Maua expected the pride to have changed a great deal - or simply not be here at all. Rumors after all couldn't always be trusted...And yet she had followed those rumors regardless and a lingering hope remained in her heart. They would be true..they must be true. Something - anything had to be here so that she could return home and leave behind the uncivilized heathens that dwelled in the lands beyond.
It had been horrible these last several years, all the wandering, none of the respect she was duly owed and having to do things for herself? Horrible, wretched...unseemly. Shuddering slightly at the memories Sena shook her head to rid herself of these thoughts and moved forward, head raised and tail twitching as she found herself moving into lands she recognized. Sena was coming home. Approaching the boarders she was of course met by a Guard. Giving the beast a haughty look she was relieved to see that he was purple. The rumors had to be true then..."Are you a member of the Suko'Fumo?"
"Yes ma'am" The lion answered "May I ask your business with the Pride?"
"I am coming home, take me to the Mountain. Immediately - Or Mwitu Maua if she still resides here" Sena responded, raising a brow imperiously just in case he tried to argue with her. She had great hopes that her daughter still resided in the Pride, unlike Sena she had refused to flee in the chaos following the last rulers fall, preferring , as she said, to 'take her chances' then 'mingle with heathens in the wilds.' Sena would never admit this to her daughter but after spending the last few years with those heathens in the wild well..Maua had had the right of things.
The guard looked a bit startled at her demand but when the name was dropped gave a quick nod "If you'll just follow me then." He requested before starting off and Sena fell into step behind her escort, head high and eyes forward as she ignored the lesser beats they were passing on the way to the mountain.
Maua was far to proper to give into the nerves that were wracking her body, when the messenger had arrived with the message from the guard and that name had been stated..well it had been enough for Maua to have a near fit. Her mother? After all this time?!? Returning..she ought to be happy, Maua knew that but she and her mother -despite agreeing on the actions of a proper Noble, had never seen eye to eye and having the old she witch around was sure to make her life difficult. Even worse,,what if she found out about the Adopted cubs? Nalani and Lochan..or worst of all Damisi her own little purpleless failure. She'd be mortified..she'd make a scene and Maua did not want a scene.
No she couldn't think of a single way in which her mother's return could be a good thing, and inwardly she was all but trembling with the stress of it all...but outwardly at least her body wasn't going to betray her, only the slightest twitching of her tail gave a hint to her growing nerves. She had made sure to wear her finest items she had procured from the crafter's below, bedecking herself out with all the signs of her rank and place in the Pride. Not that her mother was likely to forget such a thing, if anything it was more important to her then it was to Maua and that was saying something.
Approaching from the south she could easily see the guard and the dark purple form which followed it, the closer it got the more recognizable it became and before long there was no denying that it was indeed Sena Maua returned.
"My Lady..this lioness asked to be brought to you." The guard told her.
"Yes thank you, I'll take it from here." Maua responded.
The two lions looked at one another, both of them waiting for the Guard to get out of earshot before speaking. "You look well Daughter." Sena stated, broaching the silence between them.
"You as well, though..perhaps not a well as you did when you left." Maua purred at her mother - it wasn't nice to dig, she knew that but at the same time she couldn't help but make the small remark. She had been right, her mother's return was all the proof she needed. Sena never should have left.
"Perhaps, but even your King left for a while and it hasn't hurt his rule very much now has it?" Sena replied in an equally sweet, if false voice.
To that Maua had no reply, Bwana had left, it had been his return which had brought the Pride back under control, Maua was sure that Sena was implying her return would bring the family line back to heel as well...which made Maua nervous, had she heard something out in the Roguelands? It was plausible..what with Nyota and that accursed mud colored mate of her running about, procreating and ruining the bloodline. "Still I'm sure it was very difficult for you. I am glad to see you returned home safely." She finally responded, thinking it was likely wise to pander to her mother at least a little bit in order to keep the peace.
"Well as I've always taught you my dear, A true Lady is adaptable and strong. I made due...now tell me how things have been going...I do hope your still not with that low class noble..what was his name?..Kimbu? Kivaulu?."
"Kivuli." Maua replied, quite well aware that her mother remembered his name perfectly and was just being difficult. "And yes, I am...I always will be." She made sure to emphasize. "So you have returned for good then?."
"Unfortunate that." Sena remarked with a small sigh "You could have done so much better..but so be it...and yes Mwita Maua, I am here..and staying. You might as well get used to it."
Maua cringed slightly at the tone to her mother's voice. Kivuli was not going to be pleased that she had returned. Not pleased at all..she would have to try and break it to him gently, not that she was good at such things. "Very well then..mother. Welcome Home, why don't you come into the cave..I'll fill you in on whats happened since you left." It was going to be a very long story and she would be sure to leave a few key points out...well quite a few points actually..Nyota, Damisi, the adopted cubs, Her mud colored granddaughter whose name she couldn't really recall.... Sighing she led her mother into the cave she and Kivuli called home..and prayed that the Lion did not return until she had ushered her mother out.