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 Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:03 pm
 It was true. Mawu did not feel it anymore. She felt distant and ashamed and angry all at once-but most of all-she felt dishonorable. The fact of life for the Kun' pride was that colors-brought honor and high ranks. Mawu, was the lowest color of them all-making her the least ranking female of the pride. Though she was barely higher than the males-who were ranked lowest of all-she felt as thought she should have been a male-for everyone's sake. Her mother-was a bright orange and her father-yellow... and she came out dark as sky.
She sighed and rolled over onto her back-staring up at the bright sky. Even the sky was lighter that she half the time. She reached her grey paws up to swat at the clouds-a distasteful smirk across her maw. It wasn't fair-it was as if the god's didn't want to bring honor to her mother... oh her mother-she could see it in her Mommy's eyes... the tinge of pain she had in her purple eyes when she gazed down at her. She scrunched her face up-it wasn't fair...
She should just leave.
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Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:23 pm
 The jungle was the ideal place to wander. All the plants, rocks, and such meant you could never get from point A to point B in a straight line. Instead, you took detours. Well, you would if you were a lion with a particular place to go, but Zururuka definitely wasn't that lion.
He'd stopped to admire a large patch of mushrooms growing like steps from the side of a tree, pondering whether or not he should give climbing them a try. He was just about to place his paw on the first one when a rather audible sigh came to his ears. The tone of the sigh set Zuru to grinning for there was a definite longing attached to it, one with which Zuru was quite familiar. Leaving the mushroom stairs for another time, his paws carried him lightly around all the obstacles between him and the owner of the sigh.
He finally came upon a small, black lioness cub, who, despite the playful manner in which she was batting at the air above her, had a very unhappy look upon her face. Zuru sauntered over, all smiles.
"Well, now, what's a purdy thing like you doin' scowlin' like that? Didn't your Mama ever tell you it might stick?" he asked, replacing her view of the sky with his head.
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Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:39 pm
Mawu shut her purple eyes and thought about all the things that made her diffrent from her family. She didn't have a name like anyone else's... they were named after fish and she was named after her grandmother-not that that was that bad. She was black-everyone else was bright. She was... sad all the time and her family was not... it was wretched... horrible and nasty-to be standing with her siblings-all colors of the sun-and there she was-dark and cold.
She heard someones approach-but she thought it to be her siblings or perhaps one of the other clan females. She rolled over onto her side-away from who ever approached her. Her purple eyes were narrowed-she hated for anyone to see her being so sad and lonely.. and dishonorable-her prides favorite term for failure.
She lifted her head and rolled onto her belly, looking over her shoulder at the stranger-who had spoken in the voice of a male-not a female. She eyed him for a moment-a stranger-he wasn't one of the clan males... Her eyes became downcast at her feet.
"Well.. My mother tells me things sort of like that... but... it's mostly that I am beautiful-but it's all a lie..." She said simply, her eyes shutting and her paws crossing. She sighed slightly, a pouty look on her face. "Aaand... I am not pretty... I am ugly-like the night sky above or a toad... I am useless here and will never have a future... because females as dark as me find no one... I am never to be bonded-like I dream to-because I am so dark- will bring misfortune for certian." She said. Truth was-Mawu had dreams and of course-true love was involved in them. But.. she would not be able to bring herself to order a male to be her mate-especially to such a dark female-uncsuitable and unnattractive
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Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:58 pm
"Now that just taint true, littl'un!" Zuru replied, somewhat amazed at just how much bitterness could get wrapped up in such a small package. "Yor a might young to be thinkin' the world's a dark an' lonesome place, don't you think? After all, the world you know is pretty danged small! Ah've been places where the boys'd be fallin' all ova themselves to get to know you. S'truth!"
Zuru, feeling a good conversation coming on, did something he did only rarely: sat down and made himself comfortable. He grinned again at the little cub. "An' for your information, missy, Ah think the night sky is lovely, an' who said you can't find toads what're lookers?"
For just a split second he made himself look like a handsome green toad, all covered with bright flecks of gold and intricate black beading. He croaked once, and then the lion was back, laughter behind his blue eyes.
He didn't give her a chance to react, asking, "Now, Ah was wonderin' if you could tell me what kind of place this is, that let's purdy littl'uns like you think they's ugly? Ah don't think ah've been through here before, and ah'm mighty curious."
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Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 2:10 pm
Mawu gazed at him slowly, her purple eyes glittering against her black pelt. She was beautiful-she knew she was-but... here she was not. She was unsuitable.. cubs from her would bring cubs of low ranking-something ever mother at the pride wished and begged their deities for. A child of bright-future looked bright. A child of dark-
She sat up and wrapped her two toned tail around her paws. "It is for me" She said-knowing he didn't understand her sadness or her future. With a small smile-knowing that she'd be spilling the rules and regulations of her people to this stranger-but it was a bit taboo after all. Suddenly, something seemed diffrent out of the corner of her eye-and she blinked... staring over-she saw a toad... she saw it... but he was there. She stood up, her tail curling up over her back in a '?' shape.
"Huh... wha?" She stuttered, but his words caught her again and she continued.. was she in the presence of a god? "Erm.. your in the Kunanda'Nakhun lands... ruled by females. And I'm not ugly-persay... but unsuitable as a mate and of low ranking. Here... being brightly colored means something-and I am bonn from very bright parents-but I came out black... the lowest color of all... and the lowest ranking female here... How can I claim my honor when-I have nothing in my future..." She said, her voice sad."
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Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 2:30 pm
Zuru listened intently, smiling encouragingly. Truly, he felt a tug at his heart strings for the dark little female's plight. And he felt he might have a solution for her, but it remained up to her to choose that particular path. He could only open her eyes to the possibility, for her spirit wasn't completely akin to his.
"Hmmm, that's a real puzzler, innit? Ah'm glad you think yor purdy. Jus' wouldn't be right, purdy lil' girl like you, thinkin' otherwise." he said, a wise and wily expression settling itself upon his face. "But Ah do s'ppose you got yerself a right problem there."
He turned as if to ponder the problem, but he remained looking at her from the corner of his eye, and the side of his mouth curled upward slowly.
"Now, Ah'm not sure Ah should be tellin' you this, littl'un, but seein' as how you're bein' so hospitable to this weary traveler, Ah reckon Ah can make an exception..." his tone was weighted to suggest a Great Secret behind the words. Now, would she take the bait?
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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:27 pm
Mawu gazed at him. She was pretty... all females were in her eyes-but... here... she was not beautiful. She was daugther to a beauty and a stuttering male who carried pride blood within his veins... and she had nothing to give them in return as thanks for her gift of life. No future here... nothing.
"Telling me what?" She asked, her purple eyes searching his face-as she stood and walked closer to him-the definate curve and way of walking-screaming femininity. If only she were not black... If only she were not... ugly... she'd be sought after-for being chained to the queen by family blood... her mother was a cousin... and Mawu was of family. Even her white cousin-Moray, was suitable for cubs... there was a chance she would have bright children... if she even sought out males... Which Mawu suspected was not the case.
"Make an exception for what?" She asked, a brilliant smile across her face. she padded closer and stood before him-gazing up at him with curiousity and hope... "You're a God aren't you? I can tell.. If you can help me... I'll do anything... I promise I will"
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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 2:28 pm
Zuru said nothing to her guess at his divinity, but the widening grin on his face was answer enough. She'd taken the bait alright! Now, he was free to divulge some information that could change the course of her life.
"Well, seein' as you asked so nicely, Ah think Ah will tell you!" he said, noticing the cub's fine lines, her way of walking. It all spoke of great grace and beauty to come in her older years. It'd be a downright shame to let all that go to waste in a community that didn't appreciate the darker beauties.
"Now Ah don't like to brag, but Ah have been privy to some information from... higha up, if you get mah drift." he started, leaning in and lowering his voice, so that only she could hear. "When you was born, black to bright parents, it didn't mean you was never meant to claim yor honor, littl'un. The Powers That Be mean fo' you to earn yor honor, and they don't mean fo' you to earn yor honor here. You've been meant for somethin' special, but you've got to go look fo' it. After all, this jungle is only one small part of the world, littl'un."
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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:08 pm
Mawu smiled at him-wide and excited. So, he was a god... was he one of the domain gods of the pride-no... he couldn't be... he talked of odd things... but he also called her pretty... something that was unusual to her. Perhaps he was trying to trick her. She lifted her chin and blinked her eyes a few times. "Hmm"
She cocked her head. Earn her honor... outside of the pride? She shook her head and looked surprised at that thought-leave the pride... just like her grandmother Mawu had. She sat down and looked at her paws for a moment-walk out of the jungle... "L-leave the pride..."
"I dunno... I'm still to young to leave though-aren't I? I mean... I... I see what you are saying... perhaps I am not meant to be here... Not meant to bring my family honor by being here-but to find some other way... but... How... I am just a girl...
And... I have never left... I am sure none of my siblings would leave with me-so I'd have to go alone... " She said, looking not so sure about that... PErhaps-if she had someone who would stay with her for a while. Maybe a rouge...
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Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:13 am
Zuru chuckled at the excitement growing in the cub's eyes. Then reality set in, and she seemed to be pondering the implications. Though Zuru had none to call his own, he suspected family was playing a great part in her struggle. It was difficult to shake those ties off and follow a destiny of uncertainty and danger. But, he had planted the idea. It was still up to her whether she would nuture it, or let if wilt and die.
"There's no guarantees with destiny, littl'un. An' Ah don't recall sayin' it twould be easy. Jus' that there's a chance, if'n you're willin' to take it. If you're worried 'bout yor age, Ah suggest you let yerself grow a might, learn to take care of yerself, an' than make yor choice."
Zuru stood up, shivering his limbs a bit, the desire to wander becoming strong again. Having delivered his message, and planting a desire to wander in another, his domain felt he'd stayed in one place for long enough. Still, Zuru felt he wasn't quite done here yet. He grinned down ruefully at the little black lioness.
"Well, sad to say, Ah reckon Ah should be movin' on soon. If you're worried 'bout goin' it alone, Ah'd suggest talkin' to any other wanderers that comes through here, littl'un. An' maybe you can find a body 'ereabouts that's also unhappy with their lot in life."
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Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 1:15 pm
Mawu gazed up at him and nodded... it was true... She had to wait-her parents honor would be fulfilled soon-not now but soon. She sprang foreward and wrapped her dark paws around him-embracing him in a hug. He made her see something for her future-and not just despare for being alone... she'd go out and find someone else-a male or anything else-when she was older. She'd make herself honorable-despite her color.
"Oh... thank you.. I can make a diffrence-I can" She said, her purple eyes alight. She lowered herself to the ground and stood before him. "Please-if there is anyway I can repay you someday... let me know!" She said.
She turned from him and began to trek back into the depth of the jungle.
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Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 2:18 pm
Zuru was rewarded by the dawn of hope in her eyes. Figuring he'd finished his job here, he'd almost left right then, but her sudden tackle caught him off guard. No, wait. It was a hug! A little embarrassed at first, Zuru soon felt a little warm and fuzzy inside, and he wrapped a blue paw around the little cub in return.
"Glad to be of service, littl'un!" he replied, after she'd let go. The sly twinkle returned to his eyes as she promised him she'd repay him someday. Really, he thought, all she had to do was remember him, and actually go look for her destiny out there when she was older. But, he chided himself, watching her disappear into the jungle, it never hurt to have a mortal who was indebted to you.
Satisfied that he'd fulfilled his duties for the little cub, he started off in the opposite direction, but not before calling after the little lioness.
"Mah name is Zururuka, littl'un! If's you evah need me out there when you're lookin' for yor honor, just yell, an' Ah'll do mah best to get to you."
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Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 2:31 pm
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