AIM RP log.
Kizuka, Aliona, Ushaufu, Kebwa, Varg & Kalaila
Kizuka, Aliona, Ushaufu, Kebwa, Varg & Kalaila
"He hasn't really woken up since we found him," Kizuka explained in as hushed a tone as her broken voice would allow, "He managed enough to get him back to this cave, then passed out again. I'm afraid something may be broken."
The splotched lioness took another peek inside the cave, one that was a few dens away from their own at a slightly higher level. She frowned, for it wasn't certain at first glance that the white lion within was breathing. After a moment he twitched, just enough to know that he was still alive, and Kizuka's gaze returned to her mate. "I haven't informed Masika yet, but I'll need to find her soon. Whomever he is, he took quite the plunge."
For a long moment, the god remain silently, an ear twitching towards the white lion within the cave before it back to face his mate, "Well, he's alive," tearing his gaze from the cave, he offered the female a pointed look, "For now anyhow. That's something," he allowed his gaze to penetrate the darkness for another long moment before continuing, "In fact, that's a lot..."
"Daddy..." a dark female padded nearer, the sight of her strange, for she was no longer accompanied by her twin brother, "Mommy, I had a bad dream and-" she paused whatever it was she was saying and turned to peer into the darkness; the widening of her eyes a clear hint she'd either slept through the whole ordeal with the white lion, or had been away from the main den, "Who'se that?"
Kizuka's head turned as she heard her daughter's voice. For a moment her thoughts deferred to take a good look at her daughter, still amazed that the children were growing so fast. Yet, when she stopped to think about it, it had been an awfully long time ago that they'd been born. Such was the way of motherhood, Kizuka supposed. Either way, Aliona had grown into a young lioness now, like her other sisters, and could no longer be thought of entirely as a 'child.' "We're not sure, dear," She replied presently, and with honesty as she wasn't inclined to lie to her children or otherwise keep them in the dark when it wasn't necessary, "but he is.. sick. don't disturb him."
"Sick?" Again there was a pause, though this time, it was because the female was looking off into the darkness in a strange way, as if her brown eyes could pierce it, "I had a dream, mommy. It was so scary... there was a white lioness, and a white lion, and there was blood mommy. Lots of blood. There was death... and there was darkness," she didn't sound scared though, but rather, like she sounded whenever she told one of her stories. Turning to face her parents, Aliona tilted her head, "He looks just like the lion in my dream, mommy. Will be be okay?"
Ushaufu, whom, had remain silent till then, clicked his tongue over his teeth, "It's fine, love, he'll be fine. If he can make it through the night to see a new day. I think right now is the most delicate time. If you're worried, you can help bring him water, or some scraps. He'll be hungry and will need the energy, eh?"
Kizuka nodded, but her mind was upon her daughter, not the stranger. Accepting her children's.. idiosyncrasies was something that had come hard to her, for it had seemed so out of place at first. That was until Ushaufu explained the circumstances that demi-god children were born into. It was an odd thing... and there was going to be more of it. She had yet to inform anyone of that, though.
"I think that sounds about right, dear. ... and dreams are just... dreams, Ali, don't worry yourself over it."
Her ears flattened back just slightly, offering her mother a pained look, as if toy say she disagreed. However, the girl had been well taught, and that was the only sign of resistance that she offered, "Yes, momma..." came the answer, and that said, the adolescent looked away, almost ready to go do as told. She paused however, looking sheepish, "How... how am I supossed to get water for him?" it came as a small sound, her ears flopping back; since her brother had vanished, it was almost as if poor Aliona had been missing a half of herself, so used was she to running around with the slightly blunter male.
"Don't worry about the water, honet, go fetch the scraps. There's some still in the den, will you?" motioning the girl with his maw, the god watched as she stood and rushed off in the general direction of their family den, "What're you gonna tell Masika?"
Kizuka's eyes watched after her half-spirited daughter. "I don't know," She answered with a sigh. "He... ... well. what can I say, ush? He looks, physically at least, as if he could belong here. I know that shouldn't matter but.. it does. Other than that, I don't know. It depends on what he does when he wakes up, I suppose.. and whether or not he's fit to offer anything to the pride."
"I'd say he's fit alright," A somewhat squeaky, but obviously feminine voice chirped suddenly. Kizuka's ears flattened as she looked up and found an amazingly camouflaged, somewhat small hawk perched upon a branch still growing tenaciously from the rock face. As Kizuka looked upon her, she ruffled her feathers a bit, for the waterfall had dusted them with a good amount of droplets, and continued "Oh probably not at the moment, for sure and certain, but with a bit of rest...."
The hawk extended one wing in a gesture that seemed to read as a shrug, "He's never been the finest hunter but he'll do in a pinch. Much more good with the littles."
"And what makes you so certain of this?" Kizuka asked with a frown. She wasn't used to others simply dropping in on a conversation like this--others that weren't pride members or family, at least--but the new creature wasn't another lion and wasn't likely to cause trouble.
"I've known old Kebby for awhile, I have! Good fellow. A bit simple, at times, but sweet enough."
"Kebby.."
"Kebwa, more like, but that's what I call him; Kebby."
"Hmmm...." the large male tilted his head, as if by doing so, he'd somehow be able to peek into the future... see how the male would react upon awakening, "I supose you're right and only time will tell. Might as well tell 'er he's no threat. For now. Can barely lift a paw as it is and-" he paused as another voice drifted into the cleaning. Turning to look up at the hawk.
He was, in fact, just about ready to ask how the hell she knew THAT much when his mate beat him to it. He'd have said something (Honestly, really... promise) but he was again beat to it, this time by the fluttering of feathers as a red hawk descended to perch himself on an oposite branch.
"Ah, lass, but see, the thing is, the lad there has to talk for 'imself. When he has the ... opportunity. Care to tell us what happened to him in the first place?" Varg ruffled his feathers then; he was just a bit larger than the other bird, but not by much. However, he was older, and with age came mistrust.
Kizuka agreed with the bird, of course, and nodded. She edged a bit aside so that she wasn't seated directly under Varg, having long ago found out the hard way that birds did not have any control over their... renal functions.
"Oh he may, but Kebby's the quiet one, he is. Shy, you know," The yet unnamed female hawk gave a trill, her entire manner that of one who had little to no idea that she might be considered rude or impertinent. In fact, it seemed to her as if she were merely chatting away with old friends, "But I'll try and get him to talk when he's awake." The female bobbed her head and stopped talking.
"What happened to him?" Kizuka repeated Varg's question, more than a little intrigued by the hawk's attitude alone.
"Oh!" She exclaimed, as if startled, then tapped her primaries against her beak in thought, "Well I think he was trying to fly, you see. I warned him against it, but the poor dear is rather confused. It wasn't the smartest place to try, anyway, even fledglings know better."
"He may be shy lass, but he has to talk up, if he wants to stay," he words weren't harsh, and even despite the fact his beak would not allow him to smile, there was warmth in his eyes, "Only polite and such. Oh, but look at me going on about polite; m'name's Varg. And these are Ushaufu and Kizuka," it didn't seem like he was bothered by the other hawk, but at the same time, it was clear he was trying to steer her into answering what he needed to know.
Ushaufu looked half bemused, half... well, he wasn't sure, "He tried to fly," he said flatly, "Are you serious?"
The red hawk was not entirely convinced though and tilted his head, "Do you mean to say he tried to end his life? Nothin' to do with aahhh.... white lioness?" it was obvious he'd been present when Aliona had spoken.
"White lioness? Well I suppose she counts as white, though she seems like she should be more of a red, that one. Rather firey and such. But no, he wouldn't throw himself off a cliff for her, that's just gastly!" The hawk female shook her head.
Kizuka frowned, pondering all of that and tipped her head, "So I suppose you .. 'belong' with him?"
"I do I do! Oh! You can call me Kalaila, Kebby does so I suppose it works." She trilled again, obviously one of happy inclinations.
Well, the chirpy hawk was certainly a cheerful thing, "Well," Varg turned to look down upon Kizuka, out the corner of an eye, barely turning his head, "The lass here doesn't look like she 'as an evil feather on her body, kiz. No one that's bonded to a bird like that can have ill intentions. Let 'im 'ave a rest. I doubt he's dangerous to you or the cubs."
Ushaufu lifted his head, puffing himself up, his ears flattening back, "I could've told you that much... 'sides, the chit's not lieing anyhow," then he grumbled, "And besides, if he'd have been a threat I'd have handled it."
"We know you would have, Ushu," Kizuka responded in order to try and curb her mate's sulking. He did that a lot, though, and she still loved him for it as much as anything else. Her eyes landed upon the new bird for another moment, "Welcome, then, Kalaila. I'm sure no one will mind if you stay with your bonded, at least until he's better." Not that the hawk really needed an invitation, but it was better to look as if it were being allowed rather than taken.
Kizuka cast a look up at Varg then, "I didn't really think him a threat, in all honesty. I'm going to be very surprised if nothing is broken."
"Well lass.... can never be too sure lately, can you?" the hawk had never quite forgiven himself for not being able to stop what had happened to Kimau. He'd taken it upon himself to blame the incident on the fact he'd been careless. The fmaily had, however, reassured him that he couldn't have done anything regardless... he was one little bird after all. Spreading his wings, he flew up, only to land by the tinier hawk's side, folding his wings by his sides.
"You better believe I would've," he murmured, but soon enough perked up as Alion stepped into sight once more, some scraps of meat within her maw. Her brown eyes looked about at the adults before she turned to face the darkness of the cave.
"Should I take it and leave it inside, or.... not? " her mouth was full though and it sort of came out as a garbled murmur, but it was still understandable enough. Just barely.
"Leave it here, Ali, dear, I'll take it in myself." Kizuka nodded and gave the girl a smile as she returned. The lioness then leaned in to nuzzle her daughter's cheek; she'd always been affectionate before but these days it was even more noticeable. Ever since Kimau. That done she picked the food up when Aliona had dropped it and slipped into the cave herself.
Above them, the hawk blinked owlishly at her her new perch mate, then suddenly leaned herself into him and snuggled her cheek against his, cooing and trilling happily. "Can't trust appearances, yep yep yep! S'what I always tell Kebby, but he he doesn't trust anyone, he doesn't. Who is this?" Her attention suddenly transfered to the new girl in their midst.
The girl nodded, dropping the scraps before smiling into the nuzzle which was accepted instantly. She licked her mother's face as the older lioness pulled away and into the darkness of the cave. While Kimau's disappearance had indeed changed Aliona a bit, she knew it was her mother that wore the deepest of burdens... she and her father had been devastated, but they did still hold hope that since Masika had managed to get away, long ago, Kimau might just be as lucky.
Varg had been rather preoccupied with the scene bellow, so thus, needless to say, then the smaller bird leaned into him, the hawk was so startled, he nearly fell off the branch, "W-what...?" as it was, he'd fluffed himself to double his size, his eyes wide as he peered down at the female, almost as if considering her absolutely loony suddenly, "Uhm.... Aliona. Das one of the couple's daughter and... what are you doing?"
"I'm cuddling you," Kaliaila answered as if that should have been obvious. Below them Kizuka emerged just in time to witness this new development. Her brows disappeared into her hanging bangs the lioness couldn't help a faint snicker. "Perhaps it'd be good if they stayed."
