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 Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:54 pm
So dark paws continued to pad across the dirt and grass. The dark hour camouflaged his pelt, fading him into the background. He judged that the sun would rise soon, maybe an hour or so. The horizon began to grow pale.
As he walked, he found his mind begin to wander. He thought back to the pride. How many of them were left? If any? It was the hardest question he had ever asked himself. One particular green lioness crossed his mind. His betrothed. Janikiwiti. What had become of her? And of the king and queen?
Kubwa shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. But the questions continued to swirl. He checked his surroundings. Things were starting to look familiar. He was getting closer to the old pride's lands. He both dreaded and anticipated what was to come.
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:14 pm
Since the death of her late monarch, the newest ruler had allowed free movement inside and out of the pride. Jani was not sure if she liked this or not. So used to the ways of her pride, the king, his law, she was not sure how to react to the new king and his new laws.
As she wandered on her mind drifted to days since past, memories she recalled with sadness and despair. Since a plague had struck the pride many had left in search of a better future, or for a way to help. Including her betrothed Kubwa. Though they had not been intimate, Jini was sure that they would have had a wonderful future together, though her dreams were cut short when he had never returned. Maybe he didn't want to come back to her? Jini didn't know.
Maybe that was why she had left the lands in the first place. Maybe she was searching for someone.
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:23 pm
Kubwa shivered as an odd chill wind blew through. He glanced up, surprised. The night had been seasonably warm. Perhaps something was fated to happen soon. Kubwa put his guard up. He'd been too relaxed before. He didn't need fate to throw him a new hand again.
His nose caught the scent of another nearby. A lioness, to be sure. He raised an eyebrow, curious. He didn't think many would wander this particular area, especially at this hour. He decided to take a detour and investigate. Though it would have to be a short trip. He couldn't put this off any longer.
He followed the scent up and over a hill. His eyebrows raised higher. He could smell her, but couldn't see anyone. Where was this lioness? He scanned the grassy valley beneath him, searching.
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:33 pm
Janikiwiti came to a stop as the scent of a male lion became vivid in the air around her. She took in the scent. It seemed familiar, like she knew it from somewhere, but that couldn't be right. She was the only one from the pride to have ventured out thus far, so who could this be?
Jani planted her paws firmly in the ground and called out into the night, trying to sound confident and threatening. "Who is there? Show yourself! It's not nice to scare a lady like this, especially a lady like me!"
He golden eyes scanned the area, hoping for some glimpse of the lion.
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:38 pm
Kubwa finally saw golden eyes, indicating where the lioness was. He supressed a chuckle. She was trying so hard to sound tough. He found it interesting that he hadn't seen her as she blended with the grass, and she couldn't see him, who's pelt matched the dark sky. Pale blue eyes met the golden ones.
His heart skipped a beat. Those gold eyes looked familiar. Very familiar. His heart jumped into his throat as his eyes discerned her pelt. Green with splotches of darker green. It couldn't be.....
He tried to find his voice, and when he did manage to speak, it was quiet and shaking slightly.
"....Janikiwiti?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:46 pm
Gold eyes widened as the met the pale blue. Waves of memories, emotions, conversations, thoughts and dreams flooded back to her. Those eyes could only belong to one other. But no, how could it be? Yet he knew her name so it must be.
"Kubwa?" She whispered, her voice carrying on a gentle breeze. She didn't move toward him though, she still didn't completely believe it were him.
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:56 pm
He tentatively moved closer, still not daring to believe his eyes. He refused to blink, lest she disappear. Was this possible? Out of the whole of his pride, could he really be running into his betrothed.
He had to remind himself to breathe as he walked slowly over, stopping only a few feet from her. His pale blue eyes shown with disbelief and wonder. His muscles were tense, the pale blue tattoos and small scars standing out against his dark coat.
"Is....is it really you?"
Logic failed him at the moment. Of course it was her. She had answered to her own name, and had countered with his nickname. He continued to stare at her, waiting for a response.
The horizon grew steadily lighter, shedding pale light on the land as the day began.
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:19 pm
The lion stood out more against the backdrop of the rising sun. Janikiwiti looked over the silhouette of the lion. He certainly had the shape, though he looked older, more mature.
"It's me" Her voice was higher now, flooded with excitement of the possibility that it could be him. Still she did not move, she waited for him to come. Her tail flicked in impatience. She had to see him, face to face, that was the only way she could be sure.
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:32 pm
Finally the sky lightened enough to illuminate the large male's form. Underneath the scars and tattoos was a dark purple lion with a few white patches. Pale blue eyes glinted in the light. A flood of emotions welled inside him. He could barely speak. After a long moment, he was finally able to speak.
"Hello Jani," he said simply, though behind the words was so many emotions. His voice held relief, wonder, joy, confusion.
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:50 pm
Relief washed over Jani as his face became clear, his features prominent in her mind. Sure, he had changed, they were younger when they had been betrothed. Yet here he was, and she was glad.
"Kubwa" She uttered his name again, nuzzling his side as she spoke. She didn't really know what to say at this point, so much to be spoken about, but where to start. She didn't want to have this conversation here, only a few words entered he mind.
"Lets go home"
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:44 pm
Kubwa's initial reaction was just to nod and follow her, but then the dam in his brain broke, and a flood of questions swelled in. He knew that this wasn't the best place or time, but he had to have some questions answered first.
"Wai...wait, Jani," he said, nuzzling her back lightly. The two hadn't gotten to know each other very well before he had left, a cocky headstrong adolescent. He wanted to be close to her now, and never let her go. The Gods had to have something to do with this fateful day.
"I'm sorry, but I.... I just have to get a few questions answered before I can go any further. What happened after I left? Is the pride still around? The king?"
He had many more questions, but silenced himself, not wanting to overwhelm her.
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:53 pm
Jani stepped back from his side and faced him front on. The questions he asked were not easy to answer, for much had happened in the pride since he had left. Some good and some bad.
"After you left, besides my worrying, the plague got worse. Many perished. Many left in search of a better life. I stayed of course, a Lady never gives up on her king and queen, though I was young at the time..." Her voice wavered and trailed off, some of this was hard for her to remember. Some of it she didn't want to.
"The king has passed on. In his place his son now stands, do you remember him? He is older than us, but not by much. Some think he is not mature enough for the position. He also has a queen." She paused.
"Now he is opening the pride to outsiders and the old borders have been opened. Thats when I came out here and found you." She smiled softly.
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:02 pm
Kubwa sighed heavily, digesting all of this. So many had died. And he hadn't been able to bring help. It wasn't completely his fault, of course, as he couldn't control diseases, but he might have been able to help had he not been caught....
He shook his head mentally, forcing away those thoughts. No sense in dwelling on what could not be changed. He'd only make himself sick. Besides, the pride still stood, and with a new king, had a chance at being rejuvenated.
He lifted his head and looked at Jani, his mind a whirlwind.
"So it's up to us who remain to rebuild the pride."
He smiled at the lovely green lioness.
"That was very brave and loyal of you, to stay with the pride in the midst of such hardship. I'm sure my disappearing didn't help," he said softly, his eyes turning darker with remorse.
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Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 6:40 pm
Jani lowered her eyes. She didn't mean to make it sound like Kubwa hadn't been doing his duty either. "You were brave too, who knew what you might find out here, beyond our home..."
Jani looked about, the rising sun becoming more visible on the unknown horizon as they spoke. With Kubwa with her she wasn't as scared of the unknown as she had been. She was glad for the company.
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Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 8:49 pm
Kubwa smiled, but it was a sad smile.
"I just wish..... wish that I could have done more. But we can catch up when we get back."
He nuzzled her lightly. He also wanted to be able to get to know Jani. Now that he had his second chance with her, he was going to take it. Together, they could help rebuild the pride. Who knows? They might even make it better than ever.
"Shall we go back?"
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