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 Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:27 pm
It had been a long, but fruitful day. A good hunt, full bellies, and sleeping cubs in the cave. Mafunde stretched inside the cave, making sure that all the sleepy cubs were curled up next to one another. Once she felt satisfied that mother and children were comfortable and safe, she parted with her sister and made her way outside.
The moon was bright this evening, shining it's soft glow over the lands. THe stars twinkled in the sky as Mafunde climbed up to sit atop of the cave that was home, feeling the cool air tug at her fur. It was beautiful, and such a serene setting let Mafunde's mind wander. The future looked bright, and it was something that let her look forward to each new day.
She curled up on her belly on top of the cave, the rock long since loosing it's heat from the sun. It wasn't cold, but it wasn't completely comfortable either. It was a safe perch, easy enough to keep an eye on the cave while not standing right in front of it. If Lololi really wanted to hear a conversation, she could, if Mafunde would carry one. She was unsure as to where Yanisin was, but it didn't bother her. She trusted that he was close by, watching over them.
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:55 pm
Mafunde's assumptions weren't that far off. Yanisin was just coming around the bend of the crumbled stones that they used as a marker for their make-shift territory. The large lion had brought home a small hare that would serve to satisfy the youngling's hunger until the next day. He had spotted Mafunde lying upon the rock, so he delved into the cave, laid the hare to one side and came back out. With several swift jumps, the great lion was atop the rock as well and he laid himself out upon its stony surface.
"We must move our family soon," the large lion rumbled softly. They had been here for some time and the den was going to grow too small for their soon-large family. Besides, they needed to move for more than that. Who knows if their tribe could still be looking for them. He had smelt something suspicious on the lands earlier that day and he felt the deep sense to move.
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:05 pm
Mafunde wasn't startled when Yanisin jumped up to meet her. She had seen him enter the cave, and only paid more attention to her mate when he decided to join her and share more time with one another. She gave him a quick nuzzle when he was close enough, pleased.
What she heard worried her though. "Do you think....they're looking for us still?" she asked, not daring to actually bring up names. Names would hurt too much, as keeping them as anonymous as she could made it feel like they were a far off problem, unable to reach them here in their new life. She understood if they had to move, and it certainly would be easier since the cubs were older. The chance that the old tribe might hunt them even after that would force them to be careful.
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:49 pm
Yanisin returned the nuzzle and he made a mental note to greet Lololi as well. He was always calculating how to treat the two fairly and evenly, for he loved them both just as much as the other. That wasn't to say that they weren't unique, but rather that they meant more to him than the whole world if he was to spend all his waking energy attempting to appease them both. He was a strong lion and he bent his back only for his ladies.
The great lion nodded when she asked her question. "I wouldn't doubt it, Mafunde. Our tribe is one that does not easily forget. It waits. It broods. It thinks. I don't think they'd lose sight of us, the sinners to their beliefs, so easily. We must move again. And soon." Yanisin gave a nod to the lioness and let his eyes drift to her stomach where there were more family members sure to come.
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Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:23 pm
Mafunde's tail flopped behind her, brushing against Yanisin every once in a while. She was happy, really, but the idea of moving seemed daunting. A large task before them, and she didn't know where to start. Where would they go? She remembered only too well the direction that they had run from, because she looked all the time in that direction. So would they continue again in the opposite way?
"To move would be quite the task, Yanisin," she commented, her brown eyes looking at his paws, slowly climbing their way upwards to find his orange ones. "I'm sure we can manage, at least the cubs aren't newborns!" she laughed, trying to lighten up the mood a bit.
"Would you....have any idea as where to go, though?" She didn't have any idea of the lands around here, but maybe Yanisin picked things up from when he was out hunting. They weren't the only lions out here, that was for sure, even if they weren't the most sociable ones (for a reason!).
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Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:01 pm
Yanisin honestly didn't have any clue as to where to go. He had ventured off many places in his hunts and he had surveyed the area as far as he would go from his den in every direction. But each way held no advice on which path to take. There was place where the sun rose, where the sun set, the place where the sky was empty and the place where a star always sat in the same place. The wind couldn't make up it's mind, and Yanisin knew better than to trust the wind, or even the clouds.
The great lion turned his eyes upon Mafunde and he slowly inclined his head with a nod, "Yes. It'll be easier now that the cubs can follow orders and understand. As to where...I have no inclination. Not the slightest. Does your heart say anything?" She was right. The cubs would be easier to move, and they'd have to start moving quick if they wanted to move before Mafunde was too heavy with child to move. And the journey would be strenuous, he knew. He didn't want his ladies to be running like they did that first night, running until their bodies were disconnected from their minds and they ran recklessly through brush and twine. He wanted it to be different this time.
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Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:13 pm
The black and white lioness picked her head up, looking at the sky where the moon hung low. It was gorgeous, really, but looking at it didn't answer the question. The moon hung where it wanted too, never quite in the same spot every night. Nor was it always this bright, either. Looking to the moon for a direction was like trying to follow the wind; neither really wanted you to follow it, just tease you a bit.
"My heart? My heart tells me to continue in the direction we were going, really." She lowered her head to look in that direction, away from their old home. "It seems like the most logical way to go, as well. If we went any other direction that was close to the old tribe, we would be risking our lives. I don't want that, not with how many little lives hang over our heads." She turned to face Yanisin, a weak smile on her face.
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Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:39 pm
Yanisn nodded his head, closing his orange eyes as he did so, "Then our strategy would be getting as far away from our old family members as possible. Wise choice, my lady." He whole heartedly agreed with her. Her logic was simple, but it made the most sense. The farther away, perhaps the less chance of running into their tribe...more of a chance of dissuading them. The three lions and their cubs came from a tribe where grudges were carved into stone and hides were hung on trees to pay the consequences. Those were the easier...of the punishments.
"We will leave soon, when the sun has passed over seven times. That should give us enough time to reason with the little ones, and time enough to cover our being here." There was no argument with that statement. But now that it had been decided, Yanisin was a bit easier.
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Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:17 am
Mafunde nodded, understanding. It wasn't like they were going to leave the next day, but it was hopefully enough time to get everyone ready. The cubs would most likely complain about having to walk so much each day, especially since they had little knowledge of where they were going to go. Just thinking about it made her laugh a bit, as well as dread it. But once they found a new, more permanent home, everyone would be much more comfortable.
"This will certainly be another test," she commented, resting her ehad on Yanisin's shoulder comfortably. "I'm certain we will pass through it victoriously, though." They had to. Especially before she would grow heavy with cubs, and would be unable to help everyone else as much as she was able to right now. That thought scared her a bit, but she kept it to herself. Hoepfully they could find a good home before that happened.
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Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 8:42 am
Yanisin would start cleaning up their traces then, the next day. If he could help it, he would hide everything, even the dried lavender that was scattered all around the den like ceremonial proceedings before a march. He would have to help Lololi, but he didn't mind. He was glad to. She was still gathering her strength after tending to and feeding her cubs milk. Yanisin could only be grateful that now they were old enough to eat solid things instead of drink. It would make the trip easier if he could snatch rabbits and other such things like birds to keep them steady for the trip. It wouldn't take that much time to eat, it'd sustain them, and they'd be able to move on quickly. For Yanisin, it seemed like the trip was getting more and more planned out, and therefore easier...he hoped.
"Another test," Yanisin echoed, leaning in so he could give a single nibble to Mafunde's ear, the most childish thing that he had ever done. He was hopeful now, "A test of soul...A test of lavender...A test of step...We are tested a lot, my lady Mafunde."
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Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:14 am
Mafunde wondered what Yanisin was thinking about. Sometimes he looked silly, concentrating so much on whatever was swimming in his mind. He was obviously planning out exactly how they would move. It would of been much more difficult if they didn't have Yanisin, or perhaps impossible for them to still be alive if they didn't have him. Such little things that made life possible, it was amazing.
Her attention was diverted for a moment when she felt a little nibble of something on her ear. She turned a bit, just to notice that indeed, it was Yainsin! She couldn't help but giggle a bit at that, giving him a little nuzzle around his neck in reply.
"We may be tested, Yanisin, but we will come out of this stronger than we were before." She believed that will all her heart.
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Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:38 am
Yanisin chuckled, feeling a warmth well up in his chest when his lady said that. It felt good to have some optimism for once, and it was even better to hear it from his lady. He didn't often admit it, but he depended a lot upon Mafunde and Lololi. While he was their pillar of stone, they were his. After all, it was them who made him think and plan for their safety, it was because of them that Yanisin existed, or so he believed. Whatever it was, it pressed Yanisin on, through thick and thin, so that by the end of the troublesome tunnel of toil, he would be able to see the faces of his ladies.
Then, with a push of his muscles, the great lion lifted himself from the face of the rock and gave one more lick to Mafunde's head before he turned tail and headed into the cave. He would have to tell what had happened and what they were planning to Lololi, for she deserved to know everything too. If Mafunde was planning to come, then that was fine by him and he left the option open for her.
As he descended the rocks, Yanisin nodded to himself and stated softly, "That we are, my lady. That we are."
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Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:50 am
Mafunde smiled warmly at Yainisn before he disappeared into the cave. She didn't want to be selfish, and would wait out here for a while so the two of them could have some alone time together. Meeting other lions and strangers as she gathered lavendar had opened her eyes to the norms of the world. It was very odd for two females to be mated to a male, and have no jealousy between them. But that was how they were raised, and it would seem odd to be jealous. Especially for what she had done in the past. Forgiven or not, it would always be there in the back of her mind.
Once the moon's glow dimmed, and it grew further away in the sky, she slipped off the top of the cave to find her spot in her family to sleep. Preperations were to be had the following day.
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