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 Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 6:41 am
Rengo's sleep hadn't been the best, but it hadn't been terrible either. He probably had Nafsi's warm body next to his own to thank for that, it was some sort of comfort.
They'd gotten up rather early and had headed for the forest, it was around noon when they finally came to the other side. "Officially home." He said, slight dread but also excitement hanging in the air, surrounding his words.
"Well... guess the first thing I want to get over with is seeing my mother.." He offered his leopardess companion a quick, awkward smile, nodding his head. "My family's den is this way." He obviously didn't think it would go that poorly if he was inviting Nafsi along.
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 6:55 am
 Nafsi herself hadn't slept the best, but she had probably slept better than her pink maned companion. There were times within the night which she swore she could feel him moving about, but she wasn't sure if that had been a dream, her imagination or true.
As the pair walked through the forest the leopard began to wonder how long had it been since she had convinced him to join her on her travel and they had left. It had to have been a while, a few months at least since they had covered quite a bit of ground; From the Kusini to the pridelands, the pridelands to the ocean, the ocean to here and a lot of time in between each of their travels. They had spent a few weeks in the pridelands if not a month.
She shook her head and looked up at the male when he spoke to her. She nodded. "Alright, best to get over with the worst first right?" She inquired with a light smile. She was anxious, his mother was bound to dislike her because she had taken her son away from her without a word but she couldn't hope that it would go well and she wouldn't be hated by Rengo's mother.
Her head had been lowered when he told her the direction. He wanted her to go with him. Why hadn't she expected that? She mentally shook her head at herself and moved from behind him to his side. "No use stalling, lets go." She then padded off in the direction he pointed, going slow so he wouldn't have to try and catch up with her.
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 7:29 am
 Coincidentally, on this day that Rengo decided to come home after so long being gone, Nyunya's thoughts had been circling around her missing son. With the return of Njozi, and then the birth of six more cubs, it was natural that Nyunya would be thinking of Mirengo. The only news she'd had of him was that he was travelling with a green leopardess, and that from Taabu after he had returned. No one had actually seen her son, and so she was still anxious about his safety - as well as angry that he had left without telling her. Had she known, she would probably have worried far less, especially if she had known he would have a companion. She could not count how many sleepless nights she'd had worrying over whether or not he might be dead. Hell, yeah, she was angry about that.
The petite female crested the hill she had been walking up, and unbelievably, she suddenly sighted her wayward son. For a moment, the lioness who always had something to say in every situation was speechless. That was certainly a thing she had not expected to see; in truth, she had begun to doubt she would ever see his bright mane weaving through the lands ever again. But her near rage over his disappearing act soon cured her inability to form words, and in quite a loud way.
"MIRENGO'KAUTA!" she yelled, and it was quite surprising how such a small lioness could make such a big noise. And straight away, the poor boy should know he was in trouble; his name was too long for his mother to be bothered to use except when she was very angry. "GET OVER HERE, NOW!" The sun glaring bright and harsh in the sky behind her was simply nothing compared to the bright fire raging in her crimson eyes as they narrowed on Rengo, sparing Nafsi her pinning glare for a few moments, intent only on her son.
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 7:52 am
Rengo did not see his mother at first, no he was too busy staring sulkily at his paws to realize she'd come into view. He faltered when he heard his full name, something he hadn't heard in ages and his ears pinned back in a rather guilty manner. Oh she was pissed! He had the sudden fancy to pretend he did not hear her and flee! But that would be... the stupidest thing to do in this situation.
He didn't dare look and Nafsi, no he felt like a small cub who had done something terribly wrong (and he had) like stealing from another cub, or something. Which was rather amusing seeing as he was already bigger than his mother, though not as big as his broth Njozi. He was also much darker than his mother, and his father but had the same bright pink mane that colored the tuft atop his mother's head.
He quickened his pace just slightly, eyes avoiding that of his mothers. Oh he was in for it! "Hi mum." He said, voice very quiet and meek. What else could he have said, really? Oh wait... sorry might or might not have been good to start with.
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 8:03 am
Weusinafsi flinched when she heard the loud, angry tone of the other female even when it wasn't directed at her. She could tell that he was in trouble, it was hard not to know and instantly she felt guilty. It was her fault that the other female was so angry at him.
Her ears flattened against her head and she gulped looking up, her pale pink eyes looking ahead of her and settling on the the lioness. Fear shivered through her body. If she was pissed at Rengo there was no doubt in the leopards mind that she was going to be even more pissed at Nafsi because it was all her fault.
The green feline had stopped in her tracks, as if she was glued to the spot she stood. Her first instinct was to flee but she couldn't, that would be terrible of her if she did. Rengo needed her, or she hoped at least, and she was going to stand by him even if she was going to be chewed out by the other.
Lifting her paws she walked behind the dark male briskly but slow enough to stay behind him. When he stopped so did she , but off to the side so she could be seen. Nafsi kept silent knowing it wouldn't be the smartest idea to speak now. She'd wait until she was addressed or need to speak up.
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 8:22 am
The small lioness was slowly working herself up, everything she wanted to say to Rengo whirring through her mind and every phrase battling with the others to be the first to fly out of her mouth at that ungodly volume. She had begun to breathe heavily through her nose as he approached her, and though she felt a deep sense of satisfaction that he looked as timid and scared as he damn well should, it didn't calm her down even one little bit. By the time Rengo stood in front of her, the air was flying in and out of her nose quite audibly.
But despite the simply huge amount of tihngs she wanted to say to the irresponsible young male before her, speaking was not the first thing she did. Instead, Nyunya reared up onto her hindlegs (damn her being so small that she had to do this to see above her boys' heads) and swiftly dropped her right paw hard down on the top of his head, squarely between the ears, the beads of her new bracelet jangling quietly, an oddly happy sound which clashed violently with the wearer's mood.
As she dropped back onto her full four paws, she glared up into her son's face, and if that look was any more intense, sparks (or perhaps flames, considering the colour) would have been flying from her eyes. "And just where the HELL have you been?" The hard and grating tone of her voice made it clear that she wanted answers immediately, and that they had better be good answers.
Even though Ny noticed Nafsi's approach, the first time she had noticed the other female, she didn't actually turn to look at her. For now, all of Nyunya's anger was directed at Rengo. The leopard's turn would likely come later.
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 8:30 am
What was she --the top of his skull got a crack from her paw and he flinched (though privately he knew his mother was not all that strong... just feisty) "Mom!" He said in shock, eyes wide and mouth hanging open even more now. She'd never hit him, not once. Not for anything he'd ever done as a cub... though he supposed he deserved it. Still, it didn't stop him from feeling very humiliated.
He was breathing quick too, but this was more out of panic and fear than anger. Dammit why couldn't he have ran into his father first? Or his brother or sisters... or... or someone else! Where was her I'm so glad you're alive or her hugs and cleanings and bothersome other motherly things she could be doing instead of hitting him and dressing him down in front of Nafsi! They could have at least had some privacy... oh wait.. he had invited the leopardess to come with him... but he thought he'd find his mother in her den, and then Nafsi could have waited outside.
"All over.." He said stupidly with out thinking and then scrambled back in case Ny wanted to hit him again. "I mean... we went to the pridelands and the ocean and uhm... oh and then back here and I had been meaning to come sooner because i never told you but I just got lost with time and all and I am sorry and and.." Oh boy he was talking fast.
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 8:45 am
An eyebrow raised curiously at the other's actions, instantly falling when she saw the paw coming down harshly upon the top of his head. Her eyes instantly squeezed shut and she turned her head away. She could look at him at that moment her eyes still shut tightly her ears flickering to make sure to keep with the conversation.
Her eyes cracked open a bit to look at the scene before opening fully and turning her head back toward them. She opened her maw ready to speak before clamping it shut. It wasn't the right time, or was it? She didn't want to see, ore hear, her hit him again yet she didn't want her furry upon herself.
The leopard bit down on her bottom lip before swallowing and finally speaking. "I know that it's not really my place to speak but if you should be mad at anyone it should be me. I was the one that took your son from his home and convinced him that it might be easier if he didn't say good-by. It was a mistake." She paused breathing in shakily. It was then that she found she wasn't sure how to go on.
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 9:10 am
Poor Rengo's words were obviously doing practically nothing to dampen his mother's fiery rage. That explanation just wasn't good enough - in fact, it was rather poor, in her mind - and she felt more yelling bubbling up inside her. Of course, hearing the distances he had travelled only served to make her angrier (this was how she dealt with her fear over him), as he had been even further away from her than she had ever suspected. Too far for her to ever have come to find him if he needed her. Too far for him to have made it back if he was badly hurt. Just... too damned far! But as she opened her mouth to unleash more of that yelling, Nafsi made the mistake of drawing attention to herself.
Nyunya's eyes swivelled over to the larger female, narrowing further as she heard that the leopardess had enticed her son away from home, rather than just finding him while he was wandering, as she had originally expected. With her voice tight with a surge of anger toward Nafsi, Nyunya spoke to her through clenched teeth. "I'll deal with you when I'm finished with my son."
Putting the leopardess out of her mind for a few moments to deal with Rengo, she again turned her glaring gaze back to her son. Thankfully, though, speaking to Nafsi without yelling had quietened down the urge to do so to her son until his hearing was permanently affected by it. "And did it not enter your head even once during your time gallavanting around the savannah that I might just be going out of my mind worrying about you? And you REALLY that stupid, boy? Don't you even realise how scared I've been? I've been waiting to hear news that you're dead!" She yelled that last bit, though not as loud as she had screamed at him before, and suddenly she was staring hard at her son through a thin sheen of glistening tears. At the heart of it all, and from which her anger sprouted, there had been the intense fear that she really would hear something like that.
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 9:30 am
Before he could utter a 'no don't' to Nafsi, because it was very stupid to be talking to his mother at this point and because she hadn't dragged him out of the lands, his mother had already told her to basically wait her turn. It was almost laughable.
But as she carried on she was suddenly crying and Rengo's heart clenched hard with guilt and sorrow. Oh his poor mother! He was speechless... she really had expected him to be dead? "Mom I'm sorry.." He said helplessly again, his voice tiny and his own eyes looking a bit moist. But he would not cry. This was already embarrassing enough. "I didn't... know.." He tried to explain that NO, he didn't think she'd worry. That he thought she'd maybe wonder why the hell he'd gone off with out a word but that she'd understand he could take care of himself... even if he had been a little young at the time. It wasn't as if he went seeking out hyenas or rhinos to tango with!
"Please mom... calm down.." He whispered, suddenly moving toward her and nuzzling into her chest. He didn't know if this was the right or wrong thing to do, it was hard to tell with her.
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 9:47 am
She hadn't exactly worded things as well as she could and frowned. Speaking hadn't been her smartest idea, but it was too late to take things back now. She nodded to the calmer, but still angry words of Nyunya. She kept her maw shut and said nothing, standing rather still with only her chest and tail moving.
She kept her eyes on the smaller female and her gaze softened at the tears. It was obvious that she cared very much about her son and had been worried. Extremely worded. She looked down at the ground not wanting to make their mother-son moment awkward and uncomfortable because she was watching.
Nafsi wasn't sure what she should do, she felt awkward just standing there doing nothing but she couldn't speak, not again, it wouldn't be wise. All she could do was stand there and stare at the ground while she listened and waited for her turn to be yelled at.
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 10:09 am
Nyunya drew in a shaky breath as Rengo nuzzled in against her chest, letting it out slowly again as her eyes closed, as though determined not to let this get to her. She was still angry at him - relieved he was safe and well, but still angry nonethless - and if he knew anything about his mother, he should have realised he wasn't going to be let off the hook so easily just because he appealed to Nyunya's softer side, the part of her that made her such a loving and devoted mother.
Though she leaned her head against Rengo, breathing in his scent as though to assure herself this wasn't just a highly vivid dream, when she spoke, her voice wasn't a noticeable amount softer. "Why the hell didn't you tell me you were leaving, Rengo? I looked everywhere for you. If I hadn't had your sisters to look after, I would've followed you out of the pride." And then dragged him back home kicking and screaming, if she had to. He was lucky she hadn't found him in that first week or two. He would probably have been hit more than once - and likely harder.
But bringing up this topic reminded her of Nafsi's presence, and that she was the cause of her son's worrying disappearance. Once more, Nyunya turned to look at the visiting leopardess. "And you... Why the hell did you convince him that it was the best idea? Do you like making mothers worry that something terrible has happened to their cubs?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 10:16 am
Rengo fell back and sat there sullenly, shrugging his shoulders carefully. "I didn't..." He couldn't really offer an excuse, it wasn't that he hadn't cared or didn't think she'd care... he just really didn't know why he'd never decided to say good bye. "I don't know. I guess... the thought of.. other places just... captured my mind too quickly mom.." His voice was still soft and apologetic but a little worn out, he was growing tired of her anger very quickly. He hadn't been treated like this ever, and it made him feel terrible.
He winced when she finally turned her attention to Nafsi. "Mom, please it wasn't her fault.." But he wouldn't dare look at his mother, he was staring at his paws. Sticking up for the leopardess, was he?
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 10:46 am
Before she could reply Rengo spoke up. She shook her head. "No, it's alright Rengo." She told him rather calmly, trying to keep herself as collected as possible. She lifted her head and tried to meet the others eyes. She worked on keeping her breathing even to help her talk eloquently.
"I didn't mean to worry you. I'll admit that it was a stupid move on my part." There began her struggle to keep her words even. She wasn't even sure of what she was really saying the words just kind of spilled from her mouth. "I don't regret it though." She didn't not at all. "Sometimes leaving without saying anything can be easier, it was for me but now I see that was idiotic. Had I known that he had a mother who cared this deeply about her child, that would have gone out searching for him in a heartbeat I wouldn't have told him what I had."
Her words weren't going to help her, she knew that but there wasn't much else she could say. "I accept full responsibility for my action however I doubt that if I could go back in time that I would change it."
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 11:16 am
Nyunya was finally starting to pay attention to Nafsi as well as Rengo, her slightly narrowed eyes passing back and forth between them. Now that she actually looked, it did seem as though Taabu's implication about these two was correct. Was her Rengo lovestruck? The idea seemed strange to her; after all, each of her four oldest would always be her babies, as would the new litter when they grew. She still mostly viewed them as young, dependant cubs, as strange as that seemed, and it was odd to think maybe, just maybe, Rengo would be starting a family soon.
At the thought of cubs - her impending grandcubs - Nyunya honestly didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The prospect of cubs themselves were wonderful, of course. However, Nyunya already despaired a bit that her 'cubs' were almost full grown, and either as tall or taller than her. With at least one of them already close to having a family... Well, it just made her feel old. And it wasn't something she appreciated, to be honest.
"It was a very stupid idea," she agreed flatly, after listening quietly to all Nafsi had to say. Honestly, it wasn't as though Rengo had been scruffy and half-starved. It must have been obvious he had a loving family who might just love and miss him. But even if Nafsi had failed to realise it, Rengo had known. The leopardess wasn't totally to blame in this, and so Nyunya turned her attention once more to her son. "But it wasn't only your fault, of course. It was very stupid of Mirengo to go along with it."
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