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 Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:17 pm
The coalition lands truly were beautiful at any time of day, but Nadifa always loved it the most at dusk. The little pink flowers that dotted the plains were juuust closing up as the moon rose overhead, and everything was hidden by shadows, but only barely. If you looked hard enough, you could still make out the delicate greens of new leaves and the glassier tones of older ones. There was something beautiful in that, there really was.
It was strange. Nadifa and Kolo had moved to the coalition territory for the simple reason that it would be safer for their family. But, now that they were finally here… their cubs were all grown up. Well, not completely grown up. Garai would probably always be dependent on his parents, and, to Nadie, they would all always be little tiny cubs. Why, it felt like only yesterday that they were just learning how to walk. And now they could freely walk away, as proud young adults, without fear of some lion trying to harm them. Thanks to Kolo, they could now go off and raise their own family. There was definitely pride there, the good kind. Not the lion kind.
And yet… yet, for most of their childhood, Nadifa and Kolo kept their cubs moving, from one place to another. It felt weird to be here, feeling like you got there just a moment too late to raise cubs there. Not that they could never ever have any more cubs, of course. It was just that… well…
She and Kolo had never really discussed what would happen after the cubs were grown up. There hadn’t even been any romance, specifically. They met, had… ah… a night of passion, to put it mildly, and then Kolo stuck around once he noticed that his traveling companion was getting just a wee bit fatter around the middle. They never talked about what they would do later. And now they were here, in this beautiful cheetah paradise.
What would happen now?
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:44 pm
Strolling in the cool evening air, a gray cheetah reflected in on his life. Years of being bullied by lions, not that he ever let one go if it was one or two, now there was paradise. For most of his life, he didn't think much of an idea of joining any group for safety, however, cubs changed everything. What started off as amusing company had lead to the greatest joy of his life, a family.
Here, there was paradise, everything one could ask for, with one tick. That black and white cheetah, if he ever caught him, he would tear him to pieces. Tail flicking in irritation; he didn't even try to suppress the violent musings. It was useless anyway, without a reason to. Stamping a heavy paw down on an innocent plant, he continued after anything in his path.
Well, almost, a scent caught his nose and reacted to his brain before he even realized who it. Calming, the raised hair slicked down as his steeps picked up and he trotted forward, coming to her side from the background. Setting sun painted nicely on her darker pelt, and he smiled lightly before coming to a stop right next to her, looking where she seemed to be looking. "Even the view is nicer here." The observation was true, and filled in where a conversation probably should have started.
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:25 pm
Nadifa’s ear idly flicked backywards at the noise of someone else approaching. For possibly the first time in her relatively short life, she didn’t immediately run away. Admittedly, that was her first reaction… but, she ignored it. It was perfectly safe here, safe in coalition lands. Besides, it was only Kolo. Well, not really ‘only’, considering how important he was to her… but, the point remained: he wouldn’t harm anyone, especially not her. Just seeing him made the female cheetah feel better. More confident. That wasn’t really hard to do, considering her normal confidence level was something you risked stepping in… but, he made her feel almost normal.
“I think I h-have a better view,” she said as smoothly as she could, with only one stutter. Now that was a huge accomplishment for her, and a testament to just how much she had improved since being here. And, yes, she fully believed that she had a better view, simply because she could see Kolo while he couldn’t. Her tail twitched slightly as she considered the unanswered questions between them. Just what would they do, once all the cubs had moved out? Nadie knew she would stay here, in the coalition lands. And she was fairly certain that Kolo would too. But would they stay together?
“I’ve e-even been making friends here,” she continued, ignoring her real questions. What she really wanted to talk about was whether or not Kolo would stay with her and raise lots more babies…
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:02 pm
Mostly correct, Kolo was hardly a danger to most anyone, other felines and a certain cheetah would be the exception. Thinking not of violence, a side-effect of being around Nadifa, he simply gave her his relaxed attention. Giving her a wide smile, he gentle nuzzle to the shoulder when she spoke so well, just one stutter. It may be part of what he saw charming in her; it was also nice to hear so little of it. While seemingly contrary, his logic was that she stuttered more when upset and less when she was more comfortable. That comfort, he attributed some of it to the coalition, sliver of humbleness maybe.
Having seen quite a few lovely cheetah ladies, all were gorgeous in his mind; he could say honestly Nadie outshined them all. True he had seen her as lovely when he first met her, but being so long with her, true and complete affection had grown and the more he knew her, the lovelier she became. It wasn't commented through, he had his own sense of what was needed to be said and what wasn't.
She had met friends, she had said. It took a lot of self-control not to snarl, that black and white tick had met Nadie. Taking a deep breath, he fought tooth and nail mentally to block out the words of said cheetah. To distract himself, and her if she was getting even a bit suspicious he said, "Thats great, it is wonderful that so many good cheetah have found this heaven." Now, to something else, he found his own way to start the conversation by doing a quarter turn so she could see his other shoulder, the one with the black marking. "I finally took the step to get a family marking, with the meaning, it fits well, I think." There was custom where she could get the same. They would be official mates, but rather then say that, he was just finding her too lovely to speak the words.
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:42 pm
Completely oblivious to the ill-will between Kolo and Kayin, Nadifa simply nodded, pleased to make a friend. And without any help from the silver cheetah too! She made a new friend all on her own! Admittedly, she had confronted Ezuzu all on her own as well, but that was different. After all, the brown cheetah’s nerves had failed at a point and she went to Kolo for some moral support… but, anyway! This a friend that she didn’t need any help making at all.
“Yes, it is g-good,” she readily agreed, too happy to notice the annoyance of her close friend. Her interest shifted from the field back to Kolo as he showed off his new marking. “Oh, th-that looks lovely. I h-haven’t given much thought to m-my own marking yet.” Eventually, she knew she would have to get one, but she didn’t want to rush into such a decision. It felt very… momentous, like the first steps she had taken into this place. Her green eyes met his purple ones and, as always, she felt that little flip of her heart. It was a slightly… disquieting feeling, but one she always looked forward to nonetheless. Now that was confusing. “What do-does it mean?” She finally asked the obvious, idly thinking about her own marking.
Something to do with security and family definitely, since those were the most important things in her life. Those were the things that brought her here, to this veritable paradise. The only symbol she could think of that adequately covered all that ground was Kolo himself, but she could hardly get an entire cheetah drawn on her.
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:55 pm
With the bonding ceremony, their marks would be given to each other, the fact she liked his was always a good sign. Would she want that? With a flick of his ear, he dismissed the thought. Caring was supposed to make things easier, he was lied to once, and if he didn't care coming out in his usual style would have easily sufficed. Making an attempt, the warrior never backed down from anything unless forced, he answered, "It means everything that brought me here, the safety and security that is represented in this coalition, and the love for my family that drove me on." It wasn't just his cubs, she counted very much so, he had wanted to bring her here for the safety and comfort it could give just as much as he wanted for their cubs.
Congratulating himself on an almost forward remark, though in action they had shown each other the care that was there. Actions were always louder than words but it was hardly right to use that action.
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:14 pm
Aww… clearly, Kolo hadn’t lost his charming touch. Nadie couldn’t repress a smile at his smarmy comment. Oh, sure, she knew full and well that he was a charmer, but that didn’t make his comment any less sweet. Admittedly, she occasionally felt the bite of jealousy when she saw him talking to other female cheetahs, ones she felt might be better equipped for romance and everything. But, she always reminded herself, with a hint of pride, that she was the one he actually cared about. Or she thought so, anyway.
“Our family,” she said softly, not to correct him, but rather to corroborate his statement and clarify it. “Even if our c-cubs are almost old enough t-to move out on their own. The d-den already feels em-emptier without th-them.” There was an awkward silence as she tried to think of a delicate way to ask what he would do next, ask if he would continue to stay with her. It wasn’t something they talked about much, except for when they both realized that Nadie was definitely pregnant. They both decided, then and there, to stay together until the cubs were old enough.
And now they were.
“… W-will y-y-you…” she tried to ask, but found herself tripping over her own words. Hardly an uncommon occurrence, really, especially with something this important. “… w-will…”
It was only three words. Just three words… ‘Will you stay’…
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:41 pm
Complimenting and admiring the most beautiful cat on earth, a lady cheetah, would ever be something he'd lose, but Nadie was right, she was the one he really cared about. While he might like to think himself above the feeling of being insecure, that black and white tick still irritated him even if he had no doubts of Nadie.
Yes, he thought to himself as he gave her a warm smile, their family. They were a real family and a very happy one, so hard to believe their cubs were old enough to go off on their own. Looking back to the den, he admitted when she said it was empty, "I don't look forward to not having cubs around." It was easy for him to say he wanted more cubs; he didn't have to carry them and bring them into the world. The birth of their cubs certainly didn't look painless from his point of view. Everything he had to do was pure joy, though when there wasn't stress for the cubs' survival he was sure she enjoyed every moment of it as well.
She had taken the first step then, he could hear she wanted to saw something and came up with different things that she could be searching for to finish the question. Pushing forward, he gave her another nuzzle and went for the words that were now easy thanks to her, "You'll always have me with you, Nadie. I care for you and would be honored if you would consider wearing my mark as I would happily take yours." Staying completely still, he immediately cursed his bolting nature, running right into downright asking her to consider a formal bonding ceremony. It might be too much, too fast but he had done it and there was no taking it back without sounding like he didn't want it and had just said it for her benefit.
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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 9:40 pm
Well, maybe Nadifa didn’t enjoy every moment… there were an awful lot of moments in a cub’s life, after all. As Kolo expected, giving birth was a pain. Literally. But… but, the good moments more than made up for the rest of it. It was wonderful to nurture those little balls of fluff growing up into fine young cheetahs, ready to face the world. Regardless of how hard the lions tried, the cheetahs would survive and she had helped in some small way. There was something nice about that. And, of course, it was just fun to watch the cubs grow up anyway.
Kolo’s offer---proposition, really, although Nadie didn’t even think of it like that right away---simply floored the brown cheetah. For a full five seconds, she didn’t say anything at all, but merely stared at Kolo with those green eyes of her. No, scratch that; she wasn’t really staring at the silver cheetah at all. To be more precise, she was staring past him, at the vast amount of nothing behind him. Stay with him? Of course! In truth, she was merely trying to find a more emphatic way to say ‘hell yes’, but since her parents had raised her to be a very genteel lady, she couldn’t find quite the right way of saying it.
“I-I…” it shouldn’t have been possible to stutter on a one-syllable----one letter---word, but Nadie was clearly special like that. Admittedly, part of the reason she was having difficulty talking was because she was busy nuzzling Kolo and purring loudly. “I’d l-love to…” she finally managed to get out.
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Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 7:05 am
When thinking of the cub's lives, he thought of how lucky a cub would be to be born right here, where lions like the demons and black cub killer couldn't harm them. Sure, they had learned from the Demons that a vigil was needed, something he took very seriously, but it was much safer. Their own cubs got to enjoy that luxury in their later young life, no small blessing for Garai's survival.
Momentarily, he wasn't thinking of cubs, he was watching her. Half tempted to look behind him, to see what had grabbed her sight since it looked like she was looking beyond him, he remained still. Having just asked something pretty big, bonding meant a lot in the coalition. To him, it was more letting her know where he stood and he waited to see where she did. Good sign that she stood still rather then darting for the horizon.
With mild amusement, he was impressed she managed to stutter out that one word. Having itching already for something, her reaction in action, do a lot to soothe his mind. Purring in response, he remained still until she gave him her answer. Happily, he returned her nuzzles and gave her affectionate licks. As far as he knew, they were the only couple in the coalition, hopefully, a new trend would appear, especially for his cubs. However, if that black and white tick took an interest in one of his daughters, well right now he was content to chase him off, that action would cause certain demise.
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Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:12 pm
The only couple in the coalition? Nadifa wasn’t so sure of that… Kayin and Aailyah seemed rather close friends, as far as he could tell, and the fact that he kept calling her ‘Angel’ spoke of a deeper bond than one would expect… but, she and Kolo would be, perhaps, among the first to make it official. Besides, the idea of raising their cubs in this safety really appealed to her. At this moment, she felt only bliss, sweet happiness. Bliss. Now that was a beautiful word right there, with a soft sibilant ending, like something melting gently on the tongue. Bliss.
It was absolutely perfect for describing her current state of mind as she snuggled up against Kolo, her mate. She had introduced him as her mate before, but that was only because it was easier to do that than to go into the details. But now… now she understood the true implications of the word. It was loyalty, pure and simple.
Silence. That was another one of those lovely soft words, and it perfectly suited this moment as well, every bit as beautifully as ‘bliss’ did. Nadifa leaned against her mate happily, closing her eyes and simply enjoying the moment as long as she could. She would take Kolo’s mark and he would take hers… and they would have more cubs, of course, without a question. They both missed having cubs.
“W-what… err… what do we have to… y-you know… do to…” she paused here for a moment. For once, it wasn’t her stuttering that was the communication breakdown. Right now, it was simply her inability to ask what she was thinking. It took her a while to figure out exactly what she wanted to say. “Is there some ceremony th-that we have to g-go to?” she asked finally.
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Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:28 pm
He happily knew nothing about what Kayin did, though the grey cheetah suspected him of equal opportunity opportunist. Nothing would be put past that cheetah; at least he wouldn't put anything past him.
Once again, the storm was quitted, moments on inactivity brings it to the front of his mind. His beautiful brown furred stuttering wonder always manages to calm him down, her snuggled against him soothed him, at that moment, the black and white cretin could walk around and he wouldn’t move. Well, not true, but at least he could be mentioned without a snarl from him..once only.
A moment, he imagined the life their future cubs would have. Safety, love, and companionship their whole lives, they would never have to want for food or a playmate. As he heard Naddie's voice, his thoughts went back to her and he worked to make sense of what she was trying to say.
Ah, he remembered the ceremony now, nodding, he gave her an affectionate nuzzle and answered her, "The bonding ceremony is done by the head seer, Aailyah, I don't think she'll be too hard to find." Being a Seer, and a pure white one, either her powers or her coat should make her easy to find. She'll find them, or they will see her a mile away easy.
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Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 2:14 pm
A bonding ceremony. That sounded… er… important. And since Nadifa hadn’t heard of any other couples, it was reasonable to assume that she and Kolo would be the first ones. That was a little frightening, in truth, and not just because nearly everything frightened Nadifa a bit. It was… new. There weren’t any other couples that they could ask, no one to go to for advice. Well, except Aailyah, of course. As a Seer, she was full of advice, right? But it always felt odd to go to Aailyah for advice, since she was under so much stress already. It simply felt petty to go ask for relationship advice. No doubt, the Seer had more important things to worry about.
Hopefully, a nice ceremony would help take Aailyah’s mind off of things. After all, it would mean that her mission to keep cheetahs alive had been successful. Two cheetahs, bound together by love and friendship… what could be more beautiful than that?
Getting up, Nadifa stretched out a little, trying to get the stiffness out of her muscles. “Wh-when should we have the ceremony?” she asked, curious about what Kolo thought. Hmm… a nice spring ceremony would be nice. The colors would be glorious, she felt.
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Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 4:23 pm
He felt right being the first, well part of the first, going where no one had ventured yet appealed to the cheetah. Leading forth, being the first to go through the ceremony. It might even encourage other young couples to do the same, all the better for the coalition.
It was a good sign for the whole coalition, couples coming together and breeding new life to strengthen the numbers. Good for the coalition, and as importantly, good for his family. When they became a family, he couldn't put his paw on, it started when she was with cubs then continued through their time together.
Always ready to bolt ahead, he answered her question before his brain caught up with him, "We could do it now," And then, the brain operating in his skull caught up with him, showing itself to still be there dispite the storm around it, and he kept talking as if completing a thought, "Or when is comfortable for you." Giving her another nuzzle, he waited and watched, to see how she would take his suggestion, and notice the cover up. They already were, a ceremony wouldn't change what had been built, but it might mean more to her and he didn't want to trample it.
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Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 4:11 pm
This was a new life for Nadifa, a life in a safe place, surrounded by new friends, and her new family. Her first family---mother, father, and siblings---had been taken away from her by lions, one by one until she was the only thing that was left. Her next family… well, actually, that was as far as she had gotten so far and she dearly hoped that it would stop there. She didn’t want to lose another. Here, at least, she wouldn’t have to worry about that. She would anyway, because that was just her nature, but she wouldn’t have to. It was a subtle difference that many failed to catch.
Kolo’s enthusiasm caught her by surprise and her ears went back, just a little. For once, it wasn’t her fear making her pull back. It was simply hilarious how eager Kolo was, and she didn’t want him to see her cracking up about it.
Actually, unless Kolo was suddenly struck dumb, deaf, and blind, he couldn’t have missed what happened next. The brown cheetah simply started laughing; she knew it was probably the worst thing to do after the love of your life just proposed to you, but… well, Kolo was hilarious! And so damn cute… it was just impossible to keep her mouth shut.
For once, it was laughter that kept her stuttering. “I-I’m sorry, Kolo… you w-were just so cute…” she managed to get out between giggles. Once she managed to get control of herself, she said, “Maybe not right n-now… as soon a-as Aailyah h-has some free time.”
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