Ugh, just ugh. She'd finally handed the cubs off to Mat, back in the den. Noyana had been worked hard recently. With not only the mouths of the Pride to feed, but those of her own offspring, too, she was hunting much more often, let alone keeping an eye on them. Every respite was well looked upon, and monopolized upon. She flopped down into the dirt with a pleased sigh, tail flicking. Just outside of the den-mound, though a respectable distance from the others, Noy relaxed contentedly. She was glad that Mat was keeping an eye on them.
She had found happiness in this place, she and her mate had made it, and Noy could do nothing but revel in it, at the time. She wondered if Usufii and Valse were upset that they'd had a second litter... She certainly hoped not. She knew, as they had to, that they would not be cubs forever... And she still felt like she needed to be a mother to someone.
Her emerald eyes rested lazily on the horizon, brows slightly furrowed as thoughts ran through her head.
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Valse did not waste time, purposely slacking in all his duties for the past few moons, face it, he did put some effort in before. He had already made up his mind while he was sitting alone on the borders. Returning home, he was going to do his own thing but not before letting someone in the family know about it. It would be suicide to let Sarafina and Tahka know about it, but he knew there was two that he could tell that would keep it to themselves. Speaking of whom, the adolescent bounded toward his mother and rubbed his head against her shoulder, perhaps the better things he has done to her since his birth, he would think.
"You seem tired," he said plainly, resting himself beside her, watching her tired form. Since the cubs, he did whatever he can to distance himself to avoid... certain duties. Luckily, his father has taken to his roll and did what he could to help, more so than he did with his first litter. Not that Valse cared anymore at this point. Watching his father parade around with the cubs was amusing, at least he did something this time and more so that he has a positive influence in their lives. A spark of a pride lander in his heart, he knew everyone in the outlands had it. After all, they were pride landers. The dark maned male nuzzled his mother once more before turning the subject to his own direction. "I wanted to talk to you... it's somewhat important."
Without giving Noyana the time to reply or react, he spoke again. "I am leaving the Outlands."
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Noyana lifted her head when her son came around, she perked up quite a bit. She returned the nuzzle, wondering slyly in the back of her head what he wanted... Or at least what he'd done to make him so affectionate. "Valse, you have no idea how tired I am..." She managed to say with a chuckle before he continued on. Both of her sons had grown so big! She remembered tickling the termites off of them, they'd been so small not long ago... How did he grow up to be so strong? Her muzzle held a smile until he said what he had been intending to.
That smile was gone immediately, replaced by a blank look. She... didn't know how to feel about this. She was speechless. Noyana looked away for a few moments, eyes darting from one crack in the earth to the other before returning them to her son. There were tears welling up in her eyes, but she would not let them fall. Not in front of her son, perhaps not even in front of her mate, though they probably would. She held them back with all of her might, quite effectively. Shimmering was the most she would allow. "I see." she said simply, looking Valse in the eye. She heaved a sigh before she continued. "Ah Valse... I had a feeling that sometime you would want to go... It's a reality of parenting, you know. There's no guarantee that you'll stay. I did the same thing with my own family, I left. About the age you are, too." she said, giving him a nudge. "I've expected it, somewhat, but I kind of hoped you wouldn't go..."
The words were hard to say, the hardest she'd ever said, but it was the truth. She rose to her paws for a moment, only to reposition herself to her son. She sat back down, then laid down again, only with a front leg draped over him, pulling him into the best embrace she could muster. "May I know why? Or is there no real reason?" Noyana asked quietly, resigned. This was why she'd had that second litter, fear of her boys leaving. And it was happening.
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He pressed his head tightly against her collar, purring the best he can since long past. He did not figure it would be this hard but it was a welcome feeling. Never before had he actually appreciated such an embrace, it was so... it was something he wouldn't do on a regular basis. He felt. Babied. "I can't stay here, you and I both know that," He spoke, raising his head to lick her as if Mat would. "Don't you dare cry on me, Mom," He couldn't even hide the fact that he too was welling up slowly. This would be the first time he will be apart from his mom, on his own. The son wrapped a paw around her neck into a hug, nuzzling to comfort her.
"You and Father both treat Usu and I different, we don't get severely punished like the pride would have. We would have been mauled and disciplined worse off. I am not like Usufii, I am not like the others here. I know I don't listen to the rules and that I do whatever the hell I want, but that is because I am who I am. If I stay here, you will risk losing me for who I am and I will just become another drone for Sarafina. Besides, I don't even think there are any females here that aren't related to me," He smirked as he pulled off her a bit. "I will have to get out of here before she or Tahka finds out. So I will be leaving tonight..."
Valse let out his own sigh as he hung his head lightly. "I... I won't be able to see you, Dad, the cubs, or Usufii for a while, if ever, but I promise that I will try to sneak in to see you guys again. Who knows I might have my own cubs," He laughed, doing his best to lighten the mood, but it was almost impossible with the fact that they may not see each other again. "Dad will be good, he will take care of the cubs. Usufii will help, he is more obedient than I am."
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"Heh, you don't have to worry about that, Valse. I won't cry on you," she promised, glad that her voice had kept her strength in it. She listened to his words and nodded slowly. He was right, he could not stay here... As an adult, with his attitude? "Some here might consider your father and I as failures... You know, as parents," she said, tilting her head, glancing from the dens to her son and back again. "For not beating you more. But you know what I think? I think..." she glanced around before putting her muzzle to his ear with a whisper.
"I think that your spirit is evidence to your success." Heresy, if anyone had heard her words... But that was how she felt about her son. He was so much like his father, he took no crap from anyone. Noyana never was much of one for someone who submitted... Let alone willingly submitted. "Promise you won't lose that spirit, no matter where you go." That was what she demanded of him, the last demand she could make to him for a long while, if ever. "And if you have cubs, you'd better let me meet them at least once," she whispered. Yeah, he'd better show her any grandcubs of hers.
Her eyes were getting wetter. No. No crying. He's doing the right thing. And she was proud of him. She gave him a nuzzle before pulling away from his ear again. She turned her gaze to the dens. "Don't you think you should tell your father?" She asked before returning her eyes to him. "Or would you rather I tell him?" She asked.
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Valse gave a chuckle, breaking with a slight sob. He was sad, he didn't even want to do this, but here he was, telling his mother that he was leaving the Out Lands. He just kept pressed against her. "I don't care what people say. You two were young like I am, look how I am, I guess you two were the same. You did pretty good for first time parents, mistakes happen and whatever, so no one can't say you are failures as parents. If they want to test it, you have a litter in there waiting to learn from their parents. Just stick around and cram what you can into their little heads until they are older. Just don't let them go with the flow of the pride and become mindless peons, you gotta promise me that. I don't want my little brothers to be soldiers and forget who their older brother is," Valse figured at this point they knew his face and scent, maybe his name. Hopefully, they will remember it.
"My spirit?" He grinned. "That's not going anywere, no one is going to talk s**t about me and get away. I live by my own rules and my own way, if someone complains, they are going to get a beating, anyone," He leaned himself closer to her ear, whispering his own. "Except my family..."
A few tears slipped down his face and his whiskers but he figured this would be a good time to cry. For once, he felt like one of those happy-go-lucky cubs that have the paragon families. However, he couldn't help but laugh at her last comment. "Nah... I don't think I could get myself to talk to Dad. He is doing a great job as a father, he just got to loosen up and be... I don't know, so gung ho about being so gruff. Besides, I rather get myself into an arguement and have him yelling at me. He might wake the others of the pride and I will miss my chances..."
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"I promise you, Valse, they'll remember you, and I'll tell them that they should try to be like you," She said, nuzzling into the beginnings of his mane. "That's my boy," Noyana said, eyes gazing towards the den, yet, not seeing much of anything. He would keep his spirit, so much like Mat and herself...
She pulled back when she heard him cry, felt a sob jolt his body. "Oh, my Valse..." She wrapped a forepaw around him and pulled him close again. "Do know this, son. While I don't want you to go, you need to know, we'll be alright. We're still a family, no matter where you are. I'll be fine, don't worry about me, your father will be too, and your brother. It's your life, son. I just... I just want you to find happiness." She patted him with her paw, not letting go. She had to ingrain this moment into her memory, she had to. It may be the last time she saw him, held him, heard his voice. Her son... was leaving. Maybe forever. Maybe not, but the possibility still stood, making it essential that she remember it and never forget a single detail.
"... I'll tell your father for you, then. I'll wait until dawn, that way he can't raise a fuss before you get a chance to get out. Not that he would, but I'll give you a good headstart. I'll keep my promises and you'll keep yours," she knew he wasn't lying when he'd promised. One of his rare truthful moments. She secretly wondered what the queen of these lands would do should she find out that Noyana had helped her son away from here without having been notified first. She would have shuddered, but that was a worry for her and Mat, not for Valse. "My little Valse," she whispered, voice cracking. Her eyes were warm, and despite all of her tries, she could not hold back a tear from rolling down her cheek and landing softly in her son's fur. She struggled to regain her composure. Two bawling lions would attract too much attention. She fought them back- she would cry like a little girly-cub covered in mud at dawn, not now.
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He held onto her as long as he could, licking her as much as he could, doing his best to imprint this deep into their memory. "You will always be my family. I may not be with my home, but I'll always be with my family," He murmured quietly, sobbing softly against her, his body shivered as he failed to hold them back no matter how hard he tried.
After a moment or so, Valse reluctantly let go, pressing his forehead against hers and licking her nose. "If anything happens to me, I will send word. I will find a way, so try not to eat the messenger, okay?" The son laughed quietly, not to disturb the pride at these early hours. Looking at the moon, he was slowly running out of time. His heart had planted its roots into the ground he stood upon and he was using all his will to pull himself away and say good-bye to his mother. "I love you, Mom. Please take care of yourself. We both know that we'd fall apart if it were not for you," he smirked. "If Sarafina or Tahka give you trouble, I will come back again... and I hope I won't be alone."
He nuzzled his mother one, last, long time, pausing briefly to take it into his memory before pulling away. "Good-bye, Mom."
With one last glance at the sky, he raised to his feet, nodded at his mother and started to stalk off toward the far end of the pride's territory, taking a few glances back at her.
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Noyana listened to his words, and fought back tears. So badly did her body want to just sob, but she had to resist it. She chuckled quietly at her son, "I'll try not to, so don't send along a tasty messenger," she said, trying desperately to lighten up her own voice. She sat under the stars and watched him pad off, she watched until he was out of sight, well out of sight. She lingered for a few moments before it truly sunk in, Valse was leaving this place. She gritted her teeth and headed for the den. She had to appear normal, hiding this from her mate even for 5 minutes would be difficult. For Valse, though, she would do it. She padded into the den and plopped down, immediately attempting to fall asleep. If Mat asked, she would say she was exhausted.
Usu lay in the shadows, near the foot of a termite mound. He was only half-asleep, he hadn't been sleeping well lately. His tail flicked silently as he attempted to sleep, he tried his very hardest, but couldn't.
Good thing someone walked by, gave him something to do. Maybe it'd even tire him out. An emerald eye slid open to see... his brother?? "Where're you going?" he asked quietly, curiously, rising to his paws and taking a few steps towards his brother. His brows furrowed. "That way's the borders, you know?" he added on, quirking a brow.
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Mat was fast asleep by the time she had entered the den. Nestled against his body was all of the cubs, his own way of keeping htem safe and protected. His mane was over his face but the soft snore he gave off was a clear sign he was out like the light that kept the day lit.
Valse stared at his brother for a moment and scoffed. "I'm going hunting, you nosy idiot. A male like me has to eat and better yet, I gotta feed the family if Dad is going to watch the cubs," The last thing he needed was Usu following him. He did his best to seem his usual self but the blood-shot eyes and the tear matted fur was hard to hide, but he did not care. "Shouldn't you be back at the den with the cubs too? Mother was just asking about you." Unfortunately, his bad habit had already kicked in by the signal; his ear twitched whenever he lied.
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Usufii didn't move his eyes from his brother's, hopefully adding some unconscious pressure. However, he was paying attention in his peripheral, he'd learned his brother's ticks over the course of their lives.
"No you're not, Valse, where're you going?" he demanded, though his tone was made of pure curiosity. Where... was he off to? Usu padded right up next to him, brows furrowed. He tried to piece it together, but the only conclusion he came to was preposterous, out of the question!
.... wasn't it?
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"I ain't tellin' ya, whelp. Go back to the den and get some sleep. You know Mom can't keep feeding the cubs if she has no food to give them and Dad will have to watch them, so who is there to hunt but us? How about you just listen to me just this one time?" His ear did not flick this time because he did not say anything that wasn't a lie. It was all truthful. A slight chinque in his little habit, his ear won't flick if he doesn't lie, but the underlying message was clear to understand though.
He narrowed his own eyes and growled. "And will you shut the hell up? You want to wake the entire pride?"
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Usufii's eyes narrowed and he tilted his head just the slightest. There was no explanation for such odd behavior. Maybe he'd found himself a girl? Before himself? Pfft, never! Yeah, right, ok, so that was out. What could it be that he wanted his own brother not knowing sooo badly. "Fine," he spat quietly, "have it your way, but I was comfy right here." He padded back over to the small mound he'd been by and plopped down defiantly. He would follow Valse once he was a good distance out. He would figure out what had his brother so vexed.
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"I am going to see Zurabi, she's a girl I found during a patrol, unless you want to see us do what Mom and Dad do, then fine, you can come. But she will think you are some sick," hje smirked as casual as he could, trying to hold his ear into place, this time, the other one flicked, one that never has before. Hopefully he wouldn't pick it up. "I was just telling Mom... Zurabi may be pregnant, so... I might be a father."
Damn, he really did suck at trying to make up lies, but he was doing better at hiding it. He had to ditch this twerp!
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Usufii gave a sarcastic gasp, "How could you, Valse?" he asked sarcastically. He'd caught the other ear twitch... But it was always the other one that twitched when he lied. Maybe just a termite, or maybe a lie. He got back up again. "Well, seeing as I may full well be an uncle and all, I think I'd better tag along to meet the in-law. Besides, someone's gotta keep you in line," Usufii said with maniacal smirk, his tone held a hint of "I don't believe you," in it, but even if it was true, that was a good enough reason for Usu to come along. Yup, to him, Valse was just digging himself into a deeper hole.
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"Dude, seriously, what do you want with me? Are you just gonna follow your big brother around all your life?" He growled. He had to get rid of him, but what can he do? ... What would Mom do? If he was slightly smarter, this would be a lot easier, but that wasn't going to happen.
"What do you think I am doing then? If you think I am lying so badly that I have to ditch you or something. What? You think I am running away from the Pride? The family? because mom had cubs again and that we can't be with them anymore?" This time, he purposely flicked his ear.
Lets see you figure this one out, whelp.
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"Keep your voice down, idiot," he hissed. "Fine, for whatever your reasons are, go wherever! But if I find you're not around in the morning, I'll follow you. We're brothers, you idiot, littermates and if it weren't for different coats we'd be twins, as far as I'm concerned," he spat quietly, ears against his head. And if there's something you can't tell me, then you're not who I thought you were. Just another lie," he said moodily before turning his back on his brother and padding into the lands a little bit. He paused, only a few steps away. "I mean it though, brother. I'll find you in the morning, whether you're here or not. I'm not trying to fight you, just trying to know you," as he said it he pulled his head back and kept going, plopping back down at that termite mound. (It was more comfy there tonight, to him.) He laid his head on his paws and deliberately looked the other way from his brother.
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Valse rolled his eyes as he moved over to his brother. "You know, you are a real pain and if you aren't around for Mom and Dad, then they are going to have quite a time on their hands with the cubs," He raised his paw high over his head. "But you're right... I'm not gonna be coming back." With that said, Valse hit him hard and dashed off.
"You can try following me, but you won't be coming back again!" He did not need to say and if that woke up anyone, too bad, they could just pretend it was a rogue or something because they were not going to him.
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His head throbbed lightly. "Well that's even more confusing... Usufii said quietly to himself after his brother dashed off. He chewed on those words in his head. If Valse was gone, he would be the only help his parents had left. He looked as he saw his brother's form vanish into the darkness, then back towards the pridal areas.
"Aw, what the hell?" There was nobody around here to manipulate, nobody to play around with. Certainly... mother would understand. Quickly he rose to his paws and gave chase, feeling something liberating in that action.
