Lea had been somewhat shaken since her encounter with the God of Memories, although she had reganied much confidence since the initial meeting. The lioness was still shocked by the existance of gods other than the Aali'makabila's Jabari, but with time the issue became less troubling and more interesting. She had not decided whether or not she would tell Zaliwa, but she had a feeling that she wouldn't. It felt like too private an experience, and she saw no real reason to trouble him with the information. Part of her felt guilty over the decision, as she had always been intensely loyal to the tribe, but she reassured herself that her decision to not tell would not hurt the tribe in any way.
Her tribe. Lea was so very homesick, it nearly broke her heart every time she thought about her mountain home. She wondered how the tribe was faring, especially her home tribe, the mzazi. When she had left, a lioness had been pregnant. By now those cubs would be old enough to be in their new tribes. Would they be successful? Would any of them be mzazi? She knew that all of the tribes needed more members, but she couldn't help but hope that a few had chosen to join her tribe.
The lioness stretched out under the stars, wondering what they were doing back home.
---
It was a wonderous thing, the feeling of being so far from home. She missed her sisters terribly, she missed her tribe terribly, but she had to stay here until she knew for sure. Chacha simply refused to return unsuccessful! Thankfully Kiruka seemed all too willing to stick around until they knew for certain, but it would have helped if she could have at least talked to Mamba again once over the last week.
Chacha was just taking a stroll, having left her companion behind sleeping, but the scent of another lioness made her give pause.
"Is someone out there up ahead?" She questioned, drawing closer still even as she asked. She only smelled one, and there was this feeling like she should somehow know this scent. It tickled the back of her mind but she had no face to associate it with that made any sense.
---
The lioness' ears twitched at the voice. She hadn't expected company so late, but it wasn't entirely unwelcome, either. Perhaps she could unload her troubles on this rogue. Having someone listen to her problems would make her feel at least a little better, and she wouldn't mind exchanging worries, if the rogue happened to be troubled too.
"Yes," she called back. "But I mean no harm, if you mean the same."
---
That scent! Why did it seem so familiar? Maybe when she was closer it would-- Wait! It was-- was that it??
"No. I don't as long as you don't." Chacha reassured, the green adolescent finally emerging from the tall grasses and facing the pink and white marked female. "Forgive me if I'm forward, but, you... are you from the Aali'makabeli, or do you have any relatives in that pride?" She questioned frankly with unabashed curiosity, but was at least polite with her tone.
---
It hit the lioness immediately when she saw the adolescent's green fur. How odd that the subject of her thoughts would turn up only moments after! "I am. Your mother is the green lioness, the one who joined with her siblings, correct? I left when she was pregnant with you, to come recruit for the tribe."
Lea smiled at Chacha. "Had things worked out differently, I would've been the one who raised you. My name is Lea, and I'm a mzazi. The only one, unless things have changed. Which..." she glanced over Chacha, "they very well might have. Were you the only cub in the litter, or were there others? You look old enough to be in your tribes now. Are there any new mzazi I ought to know about?"
Suddenly, she narrowed her eyes, although it was more in concentration than anger. "Actually, what I should be asking you is what you're doing out here. You haven't left the tribe, have you?"
---
Chacha's eyes widened at the mention of her mother, she knew her? So then she must be-- "Lea. Yes! I mean no, I haven't left anything, of course not!" She hurriedly denied, shaking her head. "I have many sisters and brothers, most have already gone to their respective tribes. Two of my sisters and I have stayed to become Mzazi, and Kioo is expecting! The reason I'v come out here is to help the pride get more numbers." How good to hear that Lea was still out here and well! "Forgive me for not introducing myself properly. My name is Chacha."
---
"Good," she said immediately, nodding her approval. "You're young, but ready, if Zaliwa said that you could leave for this. Kioo is expecting, eh? Good, very good. New life is the foundation of the tribe."
Zaliwa would be pleased, if a little disappointed, she thought. Though he hadn't said anything to her outright, it had been painfully clear that he was hoping his heirs would be from Kioo. "Have you had any success yet?" she asked kindly.
---
"Thank you, it's reassuring to hear that again. I want to do the pride proud."
Thinking it would be rude to remain standing as if she were ready to flee at any moment the green lioness settled down to sit politely for the duration of their conversation instead. She was trying to get an understanding and impression together from this lioness, and listened to both her words and her tones to see if she could better grasp the other's ways.
"I have had some luck. I met a male who... incidentally, is also looking to get membership into the pride as well. He's been helping me attempt to bear cubs, and I'll be bringing him back with me if Zaliwa approves of him. I also understand that another mwindaji or two have been accepted... So things are going rather well at the present time."
---
"Well, that's good to hear. I'm glad some good came from that bull-headed lioness and her foolish decision." Lea shook her head, and though her tone made it clear that she liked Chacha and truly was pleased Fira's daughter had turned out well, she wasn't the type to mince words, either.
"Fantastic! The sooner we get the tribe on its paws, the better. You should've seen the Aali'makabila back in its heyday. Right before the plague - some of the best times the tribe ever saw, that's for sure. The little rag-tag group of lions we have now don't even compare. We've got a good foundation to build on, but there's work to do yet."
