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 Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:49 pm
In the late-night mists that seemed to cling to the area, the old lioness wondered just where her cubs had gone to. Toshiro had told her hyenas had gotten them, but... Had they? Pacing a bit in the dark, she went to a high perch. It likely wasn't wise to climb the rock, but if she could get a good vantage point... She saw no cubs, only a lone adult male. Maybe he knew... Sliding down, she went to meet him.
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:51 pm
A lot weighed upon the aging Firekin's mind. His love, Mioyo, wasn't far from him now. She lived, she did well... But at the same time, what of Kiunguza? He sighed, ears flicking amid his dark mane. The pride, or his love? It was a hard choice to make, really. He looked up, though, when a lioness approached. Much smaller than him, she was almost as tiny as Kabichi and Kohpi. Was she somehow related? "Hello, may I help you?"
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:53 pm
Getting right there by the male, Ishara looked up. "Have you seen my cubs...? One's large for his age... Black, with a white mane, belly, ears, tail... His brother is brown, black, and white... And their sister, she's white with red markings and black hair... I can't find them anywhere." Green eyes watched gold, searching for answers she feared to be the worst.
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:57 pm
He was slightly taken aback by the first cub's description. He'd met that lion before... "The first... Does he have white lightning-like stripes on his back? And is his name Sairin?" Was this Sairin's mother? Shin's grandmother? Surely with the shape she was in, she'd be dead. But it was clear she was being cared for - Though frail looking, she had put on weight since the two-leggeds had let her go.
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:02 pm
He'd seen Sairin! "My little Sairin! Have you seen him? Where did you see him? I'm worried, so worried..." Her tail curled before weariness caused her to sit. A wince showed she still felt pain in her leg, seemingly years later, from where she'd fought with the hyena. Hyenas... Had hyenas gotten her babies?
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:10 pm
She didn't know her own children were grown...? The lion he'd met had been an adult... She thought he was a cub! He fidgeted just a bit, watching her. After a moment, he let out a sigh. "Sairin... Is fine. I can assume his brother and sister are, as well. When I met Sairin, to the south of the Pridelands... He was a grown adult." A smile graced the old male's maw. "I thought he was Firekin at first, he's so large. He's a fine lion."
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:12 pm
"They... Grew up...?" The old lioness blinked, trying to rememeber. But she remembered very little after they'd embarked on the journey from the border of the territory near the Great Mountain to the Kusini'mwezi lands. A gust of wind made her shiver, realising she'd lost a very huge chunk of time. It was a good thing Toshiro was there... He cared about her. He fed her, made sure she was clean, made sure she was well rested... But she had no cubs. "My babies are... They're not babies..."
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:13 pm
Not wanting a weeping lioness on his paws, Bodaway offered a gentle smile. "Every cub grows up one day... It's the circle of life, after all. There's always more, in following generations, for one to dote upon. And what else are us older lions for but to teach the next generation our wisdom... And spoil some grandcubs?" Not that he could do that.. Not yet, anyway. The thought suddenly made him mentally shiver. Him, a grandfather? Perish the thought!
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:13 pm
Ishara nodded, thinking on those words. Another generation... Her muddled mind suddenly remembered Taichi, and Toshiro's words. "Tai's Toshiro's grandson... Toshiro has children..." As the reality sank in, she looked towards the Pridelands. "I have grandchildren... And... Great-grandchildren..." She was the head of some four generations now, wasn't she? But... She looked back at Bodaway. "I miss my children, though... My cubs..."
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:15 pm
Flicking an ear, the old Firekin watched the lioness. "We all miss our children... We miss the time we had with them, the time we missed... I, too, miss a child of my own... As brown as the earth, hair as silver as the moon..." He missed his little Riku, his little boy... His only son. His gaze returned to the lioness. "Little can be done about it."
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:18 pm
"Maybe... But there's still chances..." After a moment, she looked up. "By the way... I'm Ishara... You've met... Sairin..." A sigh, and she stood. "I should go. Toshiro will worry if I'm not where he left me to sleep." She offered a smile before beginning to limp away.
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:19 pm
He wasn't quite sure why he did it, but he hurried after, stopping the lioness. "Wait.. Ishara... I haven't told you my name - I am Bodaway, proud warrior of the Firekin." And a traitor to his own proud bloodline... Mixing his blood with rogues... If they'd known... He glanced to the dunes, so close yet so far. Surely if they knew... He'd be dead.
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:20 pm
The lioness tilted her head, smiling at him. "Bodaway... Such a nice name...." After a moment, she looked over him. "Bodaway... Do you miss anything? Anybody? Surely your son... Do you have other children, somewhere in the world?" One as old as himself surely had children!
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:21 pm
Giving a nod, the Firekin motioned back to the desert. "I have five daughters, all blessings from Finar-si." He smiled, chuckling a bit. "The middle daughter, Savitri... Ah, but she's a head-case... She thinks she's cursed... A coat that pure is a blessing, I say..." He looked back, his smile turning almost sad. "I had a son, Riku, with my love, Mioyo. I can only assume he's perished at the paws of the rogues I feared had killed my Mioyo." He shook his head, letting out a sigh. "I may never know."
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:23 pm
"Would you like another chance, a chance for another son?" Was she really asking this? A look in her soul said yes, yes she was. Her children... She missed her children. She missed having cubs following her. "Bodaway... Will you give me cubs? Please..?" The pleading look made it clear enough she wanted little bundles of fur, even one.
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