[PRP] My little good luck charm (Kala x Gabedi)

[Tanakako]

The little blue female padded slowly through the long grass, pausing to gaze down at the vivid green of the fresh growth. Lifting a paw she played it through the slim stems, watching the green against her pale blue fur. Huffing a breath she lifted her head, gazing out across the rich verdant plains. Green and lush, sparkled here and there with tiny colourful flowers. It was a world away from the dry, dead brown tundra she had grown up on, and yet despite the difference of the landscape, she still did not fit in.

Smaller than the average lioness, a result of her restricted diet both after her mother had been killed when she was still a very young cub and her father had brought her here in desperation, killing prey mothers with young at heel in order to provide his daughters with whatever milk he could, and then as she grew, always pushed off the kill by her pride-sisters, despite her grandma’s amazing hunting skills. Kala was certain that she and Ku’e were only alive today because their father and grandma refused to give up, despite the ridicule and harsh rebuke of the pride at large.

Kala’s early years had been full of snide comments and sidelong looks. Naturally a shy cub she had struggled to cope, but as she grew to adulthood she had finally fought back. Coming out of her shell with a vengeance. She taught herself whole new methods of hunting, honing her skills in the concealed stalk and discovering that she was uniquely suited to hunting in the river. Fish had become her speciality and she was often asked by some of the less traditional members of the pride to hunt the river for them.

Today however, hunting wasn’t what was occupying her thoughts. No, it was that other important female role that bothered her. Considering how long and hard she had struggled to be accepted as a simple member of the pride, and how long it had taken for the older lionesses to allow her to hunt with them, she was naturally nervous about approaching one of the huge pride males. But she would have to eventually, if she were to have any chance at becoming a mother. She had considered going to a rogue, for they were likely to be less worried about her fur colour, but as an outcast of the pride already, she couldn’t bare the thought of putting any further pressure on her cubs than they would already have to cope with. With her as their mother, and no doubt her blue colour would pass down somehow… She couldn’t do that to them.

Andranis

 

[Andranis]

Something in Gabedi told him that his time within the pride would be limited. He had come back and taken Jasiri's place, and was now ensuring that the prior Inselelo's legacy would survive. Perhaps, he wondered, that was his own legacy - To ensure the long-time golden lion's last progeny would live. He worried, of course, about them - One litter had been by Han, a lioness he'd been unsure of being able to carry the litter to term. Even then, at least three had survived to see the pride so far, and he wanted to at least make sure they made it to their first hunt before his time came to depart. The other litter had been by one of the cinga, one of three sisters born during the last rogue swap. The two litters were a strong bunch of cubs, he could see - It would be a while yet before he saw if they showed it in their personalities, but as far as he could tell, they all had the determination to live that their father and mothers had.

Another he'd noticed had some determination, despite how she acted, was Kopikala'nani. Or at least, to Gabedi, it APPEARED she had some unconscious determination. The little blue lioness fascinated him, really. She was entirely everything his mother had taught him against, how lions shouldn't be certain colors. Indeed, her prejudices against Laini'hatau's daughters had been the strongest, as far as he'd seen, because of her own pride rearing and how she'd grown up. But Gabedi saw them differently. He'd been out in the roguelands, and seen many lions with otherwise odd colorations that had no ill happenings occur to them. And indeed, when he'd first gone back to help after a roughed-up looking rogue had directed him, he found the blue cubs' appearance had coincided with the arrival of Bangizwe and the rise of Andhaka.

His mother, as far as Gabedi was concerned, was entirely wrong about what odd coat colors meant. To Gabedi, he saw them as a sign of a blessing, that something good would come to the pride, and indeed the pride was the most prosperous it had been in a long time. As he thought on these facts, he rubbed his back against a tree, getting at an itch he couldn't otherwise reach. Movement caught his eye, a flash of blue he knew all too well the sight of, and couldn't help but smile. "Good day, Kopikala'nani!"

Tanakako

Sorry that took a bit, wanted to finish a short SRP first so a 'half RP' could have a secondary to go with it to count as a full, but then was busy with work for a few days!

 

[Tanakako]

Despite her colour, she was actually really good ant sneaking about, mainly due to her light weight and small stature. The massive male however, stuck out above the tops of the grass heads easily despite his much mor subtle colouring, especially as he was currently engaged in scratching himself on a tree. However she hadn't expected him to call out to her and certainly not with her name. Startled she froze, golden eyes wide as her heart tripped in her chest. Then his friendly tone registered. He wasn't angry at her, or aggressive, he was.... welcoming? Taking a slow breath to calm her racing pulse she smiled shyly, her slim form weaving through the grass towards him, coming to a halt a few paces away.

"Greetings Inselelo Gabedi." She offered in return, her voice sweet and soft. "Please, call me just Kala." She added, gaze dropping briefly before the young female caught herself and looked back up with determination. She was no longer the submissive one, she reminded herself firmly. She was a full grown lioness and a fine huntress. She had to keep that in mind, as she knew if she didn't respect herself, no one else would either.

Tilting her head she looked up at the larger male, a shy but slightly playful smile appearing on her maw. "Are you alright?" She nodded at the tree he had been rubbing against.

Andranis

 

[Andranis]

He made a bit of a face, smiling despite his obvious discomfort. "Just a bit of an itch. I feel like the more I scratch at it, the more it sticks around." He shifted, trying a new angle. It worked, and he was soon settling his paws all on the ground. His gaze flickered over the lioness, taking in her grown form. It felt like not long ago, she'd been a cub. His mother had warned against her and her sister, drawing Gabedi and his siblings away because of their coloration.

He had proven, of course, that he wasn't always one to listen, having gone off into the roguelands not long after their arrival in the pride, only to return during a storm. Despite the warning he'd gotten that day to NOT come back, he still returned, this time to challenge Jasiri. He'd also found himself talking to a number of oddly-colored lions while outside the pride's lands, too. The only one that had proven a problem was the big dark male with the seemingly-glowing stripes.

But those were neither here nor now. "How are you doing today, Kala?" He glanced over her face, trying to gauge her status of being. "You looked a bit lost in thought there a moment ago." Usually he didn't see her, maybe that was why it had been seemingly easier than usual to spot her. She was really good at sneaking, that he'd seen.

Tanakako

 

[Tanakako]

She watched as he scratched again, a small but genuine smile curling her muzzle as he struggled against the tree. But just as she was about to offer to help, he seemed to get whatever it was that was bothering him and settle back down. "Well... Itches seem to exist just to annoy us, so that makes sense. Its worse when you are stalking and cant move to scratch it." She gave him a sympathetic look. With all that mane, he had to itch more than she did. The heat could be quite brutal in the dry season after all.

His observation made her shift a little, smiling at him again thought her gaze was embarrassed. "Oh, I'm very well thank you. I was just thinking really..." Trailing off she settled back on her haunches, head tilting to look up at him again. Next to the male she felt very tiny indeed. "Are you on patrol out here?" She asked, unwilling to admit to what had been occupying her thoughts a moment ago. After all they were quite a way from where the pride was currently resting. Kala tended to wander as it was a habit of hers, born of the social exile she had lived with her whole life. Though it didn't bother her any more.

Andrans

 

[Andranis]

His gaze flicked over her, one eyebrow lifting. "Thinking about what?" He looked down at her, marveling for a moment at how tiny some lions could be. He had, indeed, gotten his father's bulk. It made him feel strong, likely appropriately so, as it wasn't easy for other males to easily best him. But he also knew it meant that when he felt, the impact would be great.

Gabedi looked to the horizon, watching an elephant off in the distance. From the looks of it, it was simply a great bull on his own. "I'm always on patrol." He then turned and smiled at Kala. "But I'm not above pausing to spend some time with my pridemates."

Tanakako

 

[Tanakako]

She nodded slightly at his comment, also turning to watch the elephant for a brief moment, but it was too far away to be a threat so she dismissed it and looked back at the large male. His question a moment ago, wishing to know her thoughts, made her lower her gaze again, tail curling about her neatly gathered paws shyly. But for as much as the answer embarrassed her, she couldn't not give one. For Kala had never lied in her life.

"Cubs." She offered with a shy smile, finally meeting his gaze once more. "I hope I am worthy of becoming a mother. But I worry, for my cubs will be partly blue, like me." She lifted one slim shoulder in an expression of acceptance. She was as blue as it was possible to be, and even now, the pride never let her forget it. Though the grudging respect she had earned with her own blood, sweat and tears should at least protect her cubs a little from the more poisonous tongues.

Andranis

 

[Tanakako]

They spoke for a long time, about cubs, family and the pride. They spoke of her father, and his infrequent and secret visits to see her and her sister. And they spoke of other things, inconsequential things. The sky as dusk fell, the turning of the seasons, the stars at night. Anything and everything. It was a pleasent, lazy afternoon as she accompanied him on his patrol, talking as if they were long lost friends. Indeed, of all the pride, Gabedi was perhapse one of the most accepting lions she had ever met. Not including her own family of course. Though she well remembered his mother, who was one of the most outspoken against Kala and her sibling.

Nevertheless, when at last it came time to part ways, she was saddened to say good bye to the big male, no matter how temporary it would be. Yet finally she had to leave him to his work. For she also had her own duties and with a last farewell and a briefly, timid brush of her cheek to hus shoulder, she turned and vanished into the thick, verdant grassland, headed towards the river to fish for her family's dinner.