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 Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 7:25 pm
Wahabu was getting very tired. His sleep was light and interrupted as his mind seemed incapable of slowing down for too long, always having strange dreams or visions. During the day, his attempts at naps kept getting intruded upon- and most recent attempts had been family. First he had run into two dark lionesses who looked so much like Miamba and Kizamaji, and later when he was trying to nap in the den his father had shown up with his.. friend. He had cousins, and now another lioness living in the den, and to top it all off his friend had returned and had a cub of his own. What was going on with all the family stuff?
Trying again to nap, Habu had fallen asleep in the shade of a tree as the sun was beginning to set for the night. It was not a dreamless sleep, but it was deeper than it had been the past couple of nights and had he realized it he would have been glad for it.
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 7:31 pm
A lioness lurked about nearby. Though, she didn't exactly know who she was about to spook. She went off to explore for a little while after finding a nice little den with Kikore. It was so much fun, but everyone needed a break from it all every now and then. So, she went to go see what was up. She stalked the grasses, and hid in them quite well. She padded lightly towards the shady tree where the lion was snoozing. With a grin, she stepped out quickly, ready to pounce. Startled, she backed up, falling over to her back.
In shock, she looked around frantically. "Wahabu, ... is that ... you?" Her ears were lowered, afraid to find the reaction her brother would have on her. She rolled back over and slipped lightly back into the tall grasses, only her head poking out between them to watch the yellow lion. She panted heavily, the shock still coming to her. Wahabu was here ... ?! So that mean't they didn't leave after all. She sighed with relief.
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 7:39 pm
Wahabu started to wakefulness at the thud of Kilango falling back and the mention of his name. His vision was a little blurry from waking up, and when he saw Kilango he wasn't quite sure he was awake at all. Blue lions had been in his dreams, his visions- he figured he'd been keeping up, to some extent, with where in Africa Kilango was. Among other blue lions, one of which turned out (possibly) to be a cousin. When Kilango rolled over and scrambled to the grasses, and after Habu had a moment to blink and realize he was in fact awake, he started for a second time.
"Kilango?!" he gasped, unable to surpress a growl. It took Habu almost no time to get to his feet and take a defensive pose- he quite clearly had not forgotten what happened the last time she was around.
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 7:47 pm
Kilango peered back out at Wahabu. "Alright, you caught me, Wahabu." She came out of the grasses and then padded up towards him slowly, tail dragging on the ground. She just ... stared at him for a few seconds, haulting her tracks. Ears still lowered, a few tears began forming in her eyes. Her mouth was wide open, as if she was meaning to say something. Looking down to the ground, a tear fell from her cheek. She mumbled lightly to him. "... I ... don't know what to say. ... ... I" She paused, looking back up at him.
Immediately, she came over to him and gave him a hug. She had honestly missed him all this time. "... I'm ... soo sorry, Wahabu." She clung to him tightly. ".. soo sooo sorry."
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 7:58 pm
Habu glared at his sister, his mind racing- why on earth did she come back? Why couldn't she just leave them all alone, she'd been doing him so much good by staying away before. He wouldn't be so stupid this time! His expression didn't change as she emerged from the grass and even started to cry. For every step forward she took, he took a step back- until she came forward very quickly and gave him a hug. It was very quick, and he almost managed to evade but he wasn't quick enough- perhaps he would have been quicker if she looked as malicious as he imagined.
"What?" he snapped, managing not to growl this time- though he didn't sound quite like he believed what was going on. He'd finally lost his mind, he figured- or he was still asleep, or both! Stunned, he just stood there tensely as Kilango clung to him.
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:29 pm
She continued to hold onto him, her tears falling into his mane. "Wahabu, i'm so sorry for ... ruining your life." She felt so terrible by ruining his life, or at least it seemed to her like she did. It was of the past now, and she wanted to regain a better reputation and give an apology to her friends and family. She let go, and backed off, giving him some space. Though, she still needed to say sorry many more times. She wanted her brothers forgiveness.
She stood still and silent, waiting to listen to her brother.
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:40 pm
Again, Habu flinched when Kilango moved, even though this time it was away from him. He took a couple steps back, looking caught somewhere between his initial anger and now the shock from her actions. Not only was she not attacking him, she was apologizing and crying--
Of course, Habu reminded himself how he would not fall for her tricks again. It would take more than an apology to gain his trust back. His mane might now hide some of them, but the scars were still there. Not to mention it went beyond just the phsyical scars. He puffed up at her apology.
"Ruining my life?" he repeated, growlling softly now, "You didn't ruin my life, you couldn't if you wanted to- which I'm certain you did. Why are you back?" Despite it being Kilango, he probably would regret his viciousness later- but right now he wasn't sure how he should react.
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 9:06 pm
Kilango was slightly upset by his reaction. Tail between her legs, she frowned at her brother. "I came back to settle down with my mate. ... and because I missed my family. Though, if you still feel that way about me, then i'll gladly ignore you, Wahabu. What you are doing right now ... ... its uncalled for. We are siblings, and yet you still can't forgive me, after all this time ... i'm sorry you feel that way, brother."
And with that, she silenced herself and slugged back into the tall grasses, hiding from Wahabu and his ignorance.
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 9:12 pm
Wahabu listened to Kilango, and couldn't help but feel angrier t what she said. She might want to settle down, she might miss her family- but was she dumb enough to expect all to be forgotten? How else was he supposed to feel? Instead of stepping back, this time he leapt forward.
"Kilango, you almost killed me! You were trying to!" he called after her, not willing to just let her get away that easy, "You made our m-mother and father so upset. You can't expect an apology to just make up for that, you tricked me before- I'm not going to be tricked again." Habu found he didn't have so much conscious control on his voice now, the tone and volume seemed beyond control and even mentioning their mother came with difficulty. He looked almost like he was on the verge of tears himself, but Kilango would have to turn back around to notice.
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 9:25 pm
"Wahabu. ... its so hard to explain. Yes, I almost tried to kill you ... but, I just couldn't help myself. I tried ... soooo hard, brother. I just ... " She turned around, looking him in the eyes. The mention of their mother made her listen. "I guess I really can't expect it from you, but ... I had hoped. I had hoped so much that you would have forgave me after all of this time away. ... but I was wrong. Even after I have changed for the better, you still cannot trust me." Her head fell down, as she closed her eyes in sadness.
" ... at least Kikore can trust me." She mumbled under her breath.
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 9:45 pm
Habu looked Kilango back in the eye, looking both angry and sad at the same time. He had no reason to be so afraid now, he was bigger than she was, he was smarter and stronger than he had been then- she'd always taunted him, taken advantage of his trusting nature, always bossed him around and bullied him. Of course she couldn't help herself, she was evil as far as he was concerned. She was certainly trying very hard to seem different, now, though. Habu always wanted to be forgiving, wanted to be reasonable- but there was always a part of him that was afraid of Kilango, distrustful..
"Did you leave for my benefit, or for your own?" he asked seriously, "You weren't good, mama said so-" Habu recalled the last time he'd seen Kilango, the worrisome conversation his parents had between the time he was rescued and they found Kilango again. He didn't know all of what Mtima had been able to see, any of the conversation that she'd had with Kilango before his sister had run off. His mother might have had every reason to suspect there was something in there Kilango couldn't understand and control, but Habu didn't. Cubs were often foolish, but surely there was a line somewhere far before such vicious attacks on your own brother.
"How do I know you've actually changed? I can't see things like mama could," he asked, expecting there was little proof she could offer, "How do I know? You tricked me before.."
Habu's tone was becoming less and less angry, he was sounding more tired, more upset. Was he being so childish that he couldn't let go? But he needed a reason, needed something..
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 9:59 pm
Kilango replied to his questions straight forward. "Yes, in the beginning, I did leave the Pridelands for my own benefit. To get away from my family, which I thought I didn't need. Though, I was wrong. I needed my family all along. I ended up clinging to the family I traveled with, just because I got screwed over emotionally all thanks to my leaving." She shrugged and looked away.
"Wahabu, after traveling across the continent, literally, I realized how stupid I really was. After being with Kikore'ruia ... I ... just. Changed. I don't even understand it myself. But, then I grew attached to him ... and somehow we decided to return to the Pridelands, while his mother and sister stayed behind in the Bahari'mtoto. I suddenly was wanting to return ... and see you and father ... and mother."
After being interrogated more, she backed up. "And for that I am sorry. I promise I won't trick you again. I swear on it. Wahabu, why do you think I came back to the Pridelands? To torment you? ... ... that would be childish. I came back here because ... I love my mate and my family."
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 10:11 pm
Wahabu listened to everything Kilango said, but took it all in with some skepticism. He wasn't surprised to hear she had left for herself, it just cleared up some of what she said- it was a relatively new hope of hers that time would have healed the wounds she made before and when she left. He didn't look entirely convinced, though it was a natural defence mechanism he had developped in his youth of worrying she might come back for another try.. Habu had to admit (privately) that she had a point, it would be childish now to return just to torture him.
"You know where to find our father, then," he said simply. Maybe if he knew what Kiza thought about it all, how he felt about all of this.. it would be easier for Wahabu to accept it. He then added, rather sadly, "But good luck finding our mother."
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 10:30 pm
She shrunk down as he mentioned Kiza. "I ... don't feel comfortable visiting him yet, Wahabu. I don't want to ruin anything else. Talking to you right now ... it was enough for my to handle for one moment." She stood up, looking towards her den. "Kikore might wonder where I am ... I only told him I was going for a short walk ..." She had to have an excuse for not wanting to visit her father right now, though Wahabu would probably get her to go to him anyways.
Kilango was easily persuaded.
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 10:40 pm
He noticed how Kilango shrunk away at the mention of going to see Kizamaji. It was then he realized that, if all she was saying was true, then she had not intentionally come to talk to him. He wasn't sure he was happier knowing she was around, but perhaps it was better that way.
"A walk so close to home, with no intention of going there?" he asked, glancing around them quickly before looking back to Kilango. They weren't too far from home, were they? He didn't mean to get so far, if they were- but it was closer than say, walking in the complete opposite direction.
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