[PRP] A History Lesson

[SilverLutz]

Ruaka had followed Nchekwube through the pride, the two making small talk as they went. Ruaka wondered what it was that he wanted to show her, though she had some idea given the direction they had taken and what had prefaced their departure. Ruaka had been born to a joining rogue mother but had spent every moment of her life here in the N'ezi and so had been taught the histories as if she had been born to N'ezi parents. (She had, really, since Nchekwube himself had seen that her mother belonged here, but there were some that still didn't see eye to eye on that). Still, there was a lot of history to learn and she was still learning, so she was sure this would be an educational expedition.

"The shrines?" she asked as they approached, looking up at Nchekwube with curiosity. She had guessed they'd be heading here but now she was sure of it.

"A paws-on history lesson, then?" she asked, a tiny smile on her face.

oo DeD

 

[oo Ded]

Nchekwube had spent a majority of their trek deep in thought, his contemplations veiled by vague chit-chat. He was glad that Imani had settled in well and that Ruaka and her siblings were—for the most part—accepted and raised as the true pride members that they were. The Amusu had expected some pushback and, while that was some amount of grumbling from the N'ezi-ozu, he had been pleased by the warm welcoming nature of many others.

Though there might have been a mix of opinions about his and Itiri's decisions, Nchekwube had always been completely on board with though decision to let Imani—and the following rogues—to stay. His assurance in his choice had become solidified when he first met Imani's cubs. When he first looked into Ruaka's eyes and was swept with a vision, not unlike those he had when meeting outsiders, but… but different, in its own way.

The lion gave a confirming 'Mm' as they approached the shrines. Specifically, he brought them before the shrine to the Akaraaka ancestors. He ran his eyes over it, a warm smile touching his face as he noted how the shrines seemed to be rather well taken care of. Understandable, considering the paranoia about the mood of the ancestors that followed the strange occurrences around the pride as of late.

"The Akaraaka family," Nchekwube started, looking from the shrine to Ruaka. "When our Chieftains pass into the land of the ancestors and their bones lain to rest, his successor is chosen from the Akaraaka. His sons undergo the Trials, as Owu and Itiri have done." Nchekwube settled, sitting before the shrine and looking from it to his young companion. "This time around, all that participated in the Trials came out unscathed. I can't, though, say that that's been the case throughout history."

The lion watched her as he spoke, admittedly watching for any sort of reaction she might have to their history lesson.

SilverLutz

 

[SilverLutz]

Ruaka sat beside Nchekwube, her pale gaze trained on the shrine before her. She would have thought more of the orbs would be hanging around here if not the catacombs, considering this was sort of their last link to the living world, but to each their own. She supposed if she was a floating spirit she wouldn't want to be tied down to one place.

Glancing up at the Amusu, she gave a little nod as he recanted the ways of the pride. She knew that those who wished to rule had to undergo trials and that they were dangerous, but in her time here both Owu and Itiri made it through alive.

"Oh...I suppose that does make sense given the Trials are dangerous," she mused softly, tail flicking back and forth slowly along the ground, kicking up a bit of dust and dirt. "A shame to lose potential leaders but an honorable way to join the ancestors." There weren't many dishonorable ways to go, really, but dying while trying to lead the pride was certainly an honor in her mind. It showed true dedication to leading. A coward or someone seeking power wouldn't want to risk their life just to rule...right?

"Is it common to fail?" she asked, glancing up at Nchekwube once more.

oo DeD

 

[oo Ded]

"That depends on your perspective, I suppose," Nechkwube replied, meeting Ruaka's eyes when she glanced to him. His tail flicked a couple of times behind him thoughtfully. "Only one is named Chieftain in the end, so in that sense some may say that all others fail. At the same time, though, some might say that surviving the Trials is success in its own right."

The lion shifted his weight on his paws, then looked back to the shrine. "It's hard to say that any of that is failing, though. It is Death's right to claim souls and take them through the Gates of Heaven. It may be… difficult for the living to accept this, but how can it be deemed a failure when it is Death who decides what souls are ready for eternal rest, not our own?"

He looked back at her, then, realizing that he had become a bit… preachy. He sounded old. The Amusu was closer to being one of the younger members of the pride rather than old, but still. When had he started to sound so wizened? Nchekwube's nose wrinkled at the thought and he shook it from his head before turning his attention back to the adolescent thoughtfully. His eyes narrowed a touch. Yes, those were the longstanding pride beliefs; that Death decided a soul of the deceased was ready to pass to Heaven. And Death also decided when a soul of the deceased wasn't ready.

SilverLutz

 

[SilverLutz]

Ruaka looked thoughtfully back to the shrine as Nchekwube put a different spin on it. It was true that Death wasn't something to fear or find 'bad', as it were, and she nodded a bit as she realized that it certainly wasn't failure. Death knew when a mortal's time was done, after all. There was no questioning that. And living through the trials was quite an accomplishment in its own right.

"Perhaps fail was the wrong word," she said with a sheepish smile. "I suppose I meant does a Chieftain emerge with every group that goes in? Has it ever required more than the original lions that attempted the Trials to find the successor?" She had been born here and was just as much a part of the pride as other cubs that had bloodlines stretching back for generations but she couldn't help but feel like she always needed to know more.

Glancing back at Nchekwube, Ruaka's ear twitched just a bit, a thoughtful look crossing over her pale features. She seemed to look beyond Nchekwube for a moment, somewhere just beyond his mane, and after a few silent seconds she spoke again.

"Then, is it failing to return?" she asked very quietly, her gaze settling on Nchekwube again. She wasn't sure what had made her ask that though she knew reincarnation was a belief within the pride.

oo DeD

Sorry for the delay!