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 Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 11:13 am
Kidondo was back in full, gleaming health. He was a large lion, built strong and tough. His royal-red pelt shone under the rays of the first of the morning sunshine and caught in the gleam of his sandy eyes. He looked kingly, looked regal and every part of him screamed Firekin.
He flexed his hooked, ebony claws in the sand and stretched the fatigue from his muscles. Guard duty was not taking up so much of his time - not now that Uuo had been promoted and her work on the guard rotas had begun to take shape. He did, however, still feel inclined to be at the borders, if only for some alone time. It was good to do something useful and good to have some time to think. Kidondo certainly did like to ponder on things.
The pride was a well-sized one and it had been buzzing with joy recently, maybe because it had been so long and there had been no signs of trouble. Kidondo felt more comfortable, too, because with more guards to help him he didn't feel so vulnerable.
The kingdom was finally taking shape.
He couldn't help a twinge of pride at that thought. The pride he had envisioned for so long was starting to take shape and it was because of the help of his mate, Kibela, Azarax and all the others who were so focused on seeing a brighter future.
The big lion padded through the sand, his large, heavy paws quietened by the shifting of the tide beneath him. The dunes here were bigger than the others at the pride borders and it was this area that was watched most intently.
He stepped between them to gaze across the expanse of desert.
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Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 6:45 pm
Moja's eyes were nearly the only flash of green on the desert as they glanced down to her daughter at her side, the only one whom she'd brought from her father, and at this moment, she was racked with regret. Just little Tezo. The new mother frowned, as she felt the burden of two empty bellies, and it was nearly the only thing that now pushed her forward. As they traveled further north-east, she'd unwittingly led them to the desert, and precisely what could be their demise.
Through the dirt and mud from the savannah, and the sand now ingrained deeply in her fur, its red hue could scarcely be seen. But Moja cared little for her own looks, and more for appearance of salvation. Tezo still fed from her, but there was no way she could live without her, and this bond was shared in both directions. Frequently she looked to the equally filthy cub, and though it caused her to ache, it filled her with the determination to continue.
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Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 7:04 pm
Mteketezo'dubu followed dutifully after her mother, identical green eyes staring up at Moja. She wanted to know where they were going, she had asked multiple times before but she never got a straight answer. She frowned as she felt her stomach grumble, she had thought that going off with her mother would be an exciting new adventure, much better than staying with her sisters. And it was! At least at first it was, now she wasn't so sure about that.
Her red paws sunk into the sand as the duo moved along the desert. She was so tired of sand, it was in her nose, her ears, and especially her fur. Tezo pressed closer to the big red lioness, her own smaller red body blending in with her mothers. She couldn't help it anymore and frowning she looked up at Moja. "Mamma, are we there yet?" She was too proud, even at this young age, to complain about being hungry but she didn't have to as her tummy grumbled loudly.
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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 10:02 am
At first he thought he was seeing things.
On the expanse of gold moved a figure. A red figure. He narrowed his eyes in an attempt to bring it into better focu, but the desert had a wily way of concealing things.
A growl rumbled in his throat.
Could it be a Safi, come here to cause trouble, or, could it be a Safi come to join them? The growl in his throat deepened and he moved out from the protection of the dunes and down towards the figure. He moved slowly and defensivly, his motion slow - almost clockwork.
Upon closer inspection he realised the figure bore no mane and was thus - female. This took the edge from his growl but he wouldn't be so quick to relax. In his experience females could be just - maybe more so - dangerous than males. He had first-hand knowledge of that from his sister Koka and even his wily mate No. He'd never want to get on her wrong side!
However, a few moments later and his eyes caught upon something they hadn't before. A cub. Both of them looked dusty and tired.
No Safi would be tired from the short distance between there two prides. So who was this then? Things were pointing closer and closer to rogue. Red and black rogues? Rogues that looked like Firekin? Half-bloods, perhaps?
He stopped short, raised his head, and gave a gruff call of warning. "Who goes there? Do you know the pride you come close to tresapssing on?" Kidondo was not going to tke any risks - just yet, anyway.
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:34 pm
Moja stared down beside her, less to her cub, and more at the ground, likening herself to it on the scale of motherhood. Though her throat was dry and the act of simply opening it gave every undulation a gritty sensation, her voice was a gentle cooing as she spoke, "I'm sure we're nearly there, honey." She fought every urge to break down in front of Tezo, but this was the test of the desert, and she knew it would have to be passed - for the both of them.
The desert seemed as large and hostile as they'd just set foot on it, but they must have gone at least some distance, as a red blur found its way into sight. It paced anxiously, and Moja was either too dehydrated, or too far off to yet distinguish what it was. But as the masculine tone reached Moja's ears, they instantly flattened, and her heart sank just as fast. A pride's lands? No, despite what she told her daughter, she had not known where they were headed. The lioness took a protective step in front of Tezo, and tried to search once more for her voice.
"I-I don't know where we tread." She winced as Tezo heard her confession. Moja was torn between the longing to whisper the truth away and the safety that distance brought to them both. "But I'm just a mother that needs only for her daughter, and not for myself." Her voice choked up, not only because of the dirt, but because this unknown lion could be the last chance for the pair, or at least Tezo.
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Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:48 pm
Tezo ignored the rumble of her belly, keeping her eyes locked on her mother as she waited for her answer. She wanted to be done with this desert, there was no water and no milk and no one to play with. Even though her sister's had annoyed her she was beginning to miss them, at least then she had someone she could play and talk with. Although she had the feeling that if they were out here with here they too would be too hungry and thirsty to play very much. When her mother finally answered Tezo dropped her eyes feeling forlorn. She wondered where nearly there even was, she couldn't see anything on the horizon except for sand dunes.
Or maybe not. As she lifted her green eyes to once again sweep the land in front of her the cub spotted something. It was red and black and didn't have much of a shape. She squinted trying to make out a shape, form, anything to identify what the blob was but she couldn't decipher a thing. She was too tired, too young, and too thirsty. She was just about to ask Moja what it was but then she was cut off by the sound of a male voice. Her brows furrowed in confusion she had never actually heard another male speak before. When her mother had left her sister's with their father she had been too far away to hear anything and she had only caught a glimpse of the black and white lion that was her father. She only remembered his colours and that he looked like a giant to her. When her mother stepped in front of her Tezo took the moment to rest, lying down in the sand. She knew she shouldn't that she should keep standing up but they had stopped moving and she was just so tired.
She barely heard her mother's words but somehow she wasn't surprised. She loved her mother and trusted her but it didn't seem like she knew where she was going. That and she was too distracted with the way the warm desert sand cradled her body willing her to sleep. "Mama, I'm tired," If she was older and more alert she might have had her guard up and been more wary of this unknown male but as it was she was fine with ignoring him.
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Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:51 am
Kidondo looked upon this mother and her daughter and his face softened.
It appeared they had been through much hardship. The mother looked fraught with worry for her daughter, dirty and weak but still surviving despite the harsh climate around them. Then there was the cub. She was lying down, clearly tired. The desert was no place for a wandering family, not even for a family born in its heart.
When he spoke again his voice was far kinder than it had been before.
“You are near the lands of the Motoujamii-Simo. You may know us as the Firekin. Our change in name symbolises the change of ideals and leadership in the pride – though I won’t bore you with that. Apologies if I scared you. We are a warrior race but we are suspicious of strangers and don’t take kindly to them on our lands.” He didn’t move closer in case he made them nervous. Instead, he sat back on his haunches.
“I am Kidondo, Regent of these lands. Don’t worry; no harm will come to you whilst you are in my presence.”
He continued. “If you don’t mind me asking, why have you come to such treacherous lands? Food and water is scarce here, no place for a cub. If you’re lost or need direction I may be able to assist you.” He was not about to cast this poor mother and her cub out into the wilderness again. If anything he’d send one of the guards to accompany them back to familiar land. “Alternatively, we could make arrangements for you to stay until your cub is stronger.”
Warriors they were, but not heartless. Kidondo would not see the desert claim an innocent life, especially if he could do something to prevent it.
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Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:31 pm
Moja stood over Tezo, offering her the only shade on the desert, as she still faced the male. Her ears seemed to mimic an elephant's with the indecision that left them between the wary pin and the eager, forward position, as a voice reached to her. His new sitting position was reassuring, but his words left her confused.
The Motojamii and Firekin... Those terms were familiar to her from a time long ago where she was not alone, but with two boisterous brothers, and her mother.... Dhyn. Hadn't she said something about them? Perhaps that she'd once belonged.... Moja's brow furrowed as she tried to pull her thoughts from her early past, and to this time. Even so, this lion, Kidondo was still quite the vague messenger. These lands seemed home to lions just as harsh as themselves, but he offered them protection.... But just the offer was enough to give Moja hope. She paced warily forward, just slow enough to allow Tezo to pick herself up and find again her mother's shade.
"We are Moja and Mteketezo'dubu, otherwise known as Tezo. And though we intended to travel far, it was an accident," or perhaps fate, "that brought us to these deserts." As she looked behind her to ensure that both were advancing, she knew the sight of a weakened Tezo mirrored her own, and that they would not be able to cross the sands again anytime soon. But when she nodded, it was less for herself, but still hesitant to take from these strangers what they no doubt needed.
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Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2008 2:05 pm
Tezo barely listened to the adult lions talk, too tired to take most of it in. She just wanted to sleep, to drift away like grains of sand on the breeze. It was a very relaxing thought. She could feel her eyes start to slip closed wanting to sleep.
The feeling of the sun once again heating up her body made the cub wake up and blinking her eyes she realized that the shade that her mother had provided was gone. It took her a moment to decide to move, following after her mother's shadow, forcing herself to keep up with the slow pace and not fall back onto the sand and be lulled to sleep.
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Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:45 am
He stood then and moved towards them, slowly and carefully with posture casual. He didn't want to scare them by making any sudden movements.
"Nice to meet the both of you, though it could have been under better circumstances for your little one." He said, voice soft. "Are you running from something? Is that why you came so far and to lands so treacherous? If that's the case I doubt anyone would follow you here. Rumours of the desert do well to keep out most intruders."
He let his eyes dwindle on the cub who was following to stand by her mother's side. A smile curved his maw very slightly. "Your cub looks like she could do with some shelter. If you follow me, I'll lead you back. Don't worry, it won't take long."
He turned himself back around to face his pridelands and turned an ear towards them. "Once you're rested and fed, maybe there is something I can ask of you, if I may?"
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Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 1:39 pm
Moja let her tail brush Tezo as encouragement, but still allowed for her own pace. It seemed Kidondo was intending to meet them half-way, but with their pace, he was bound to reach them before that point. Even at his approach, Moja was finding that she could let herself relax, and trust him, and even smiled as he addressed Tezo. But as he posed his question, the corners of her mouth fell, and she looked to the sand for answers. Her mind wandered, to that hot day when she'd met Bwana, and to the painful night of five births, but as she thought of their faces, nothing negative accompanied them.
"No.... Not running." Pulled. Or perhaps Moja was still careless in her traveling. Her shrug was lost in her gait, and she dismissed any lingering doubts. Before drawing her eyes upward again, she nodded, and said, "Thank you."
As he turned, as though his home was magnetic north, Moja watched, and was impressed that even through the nondescript landscape he still knew the way. Her walk became fractionally faster, but she nearly tripped as he posed his next question. Her physical correction accompanied her mental reasoning, and again she nodded. It would be the least she could do in return for what he offered them.
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Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 7:10 pm
At the feeling of her mother's tail brushing past her Tezo blinked and without thinking she turned her head and bit down on the end of Moja's tail. She didn't bite hard enough to cause pain, the little cub just used enough pressure so the appendage wouldn't fall from her mouth. Closing her eyes she followed this way, letting her mother lead.
She heard the male's words and her mother's thread through one ear and not the other not paying enough attention to make any sense of them. She just found comfort in the sounds, she could even pretend the gruff voice was her father and that they were all together. If she was healthy and alert she would have been annoyed by the fact that she had to pretend another lion was her father, but as it was she just didn't care. Pretending they were a complete family, even though the male was a complete stranger, was good enough for her.
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Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 8:09 am
He turned back and smiled at them, nodding softly. Enough talk for now. They needed sleep and he’d make sure to go and get them some food for when they were rested. They’d had a long journey. He expected once they were more comfortable they’d both be more chirpy and talkative.
“Think nothing of it.” He replied.
And with nothing more to say he lead the way to one of the many empty dens dotted around the cliffs where the Firekin made their homes. Dens that had been here for as long as the Motoujamii had. He knew the exact one to take them too. One close to the oasis where they could drink, but also situated to his own. If anything happened he wanted to be close by.
“Here’s where I’ll leave you to rest. If anyone asks, tell them you have my permission to stay until you are well.” He bowed his head then left them to their own devices.
---time skip---
The following morning saw Kidondo on the hunt. It wasn’t a bother to feed a couple of extra mouths this day. He’d started hunting for No, since her mysterious illness had begun, and it’d become habit for him to wake up with the sun and stalk across the desert to look for the traces of prints in the sand.
Now he was returning with a kill hanging from his mouth. It wasn’t big, in fact it would only be enough to feed the mother and her cub, but either way he was pleased. He was sure No wouldn’t mind too much and he had the rest of the day to make another attempt. Besides, the hunters and huntresses would probably be gathering soon to make their own way to the herds. He was sure they would be successful even if he wasn’t.
So, with a quickened step, he moved towards the den where he’d left mother and daughter the day before.
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 9:00 pm
Moja had not been awake for very long that morning, as she watched the sun begin to rise over the endless seas of sand, and think of the night before. Their cave sheltered them from the cold of the night, and they had experienced an undisturbed sleep, as though the lions that passed by [few and far between] didn't consider the pair to be of pressing importance, or perhaps they mistook the deep red scattered with black and white to be an existing member. They had filled their stomachs with water, and fell asleep close and the most comfortable they had been in a long time.
However Moja was still surprised at the abundant generosity of Kidondo, when he appeared with a breakfast. The mother ceased gently petting Tezo's head, and stood, as quietly as possible to greet him. Her modesty and self-taught rules of polite behavior were gone as she waited patiently to accept it, rather than fuss before receiving it. Thus she stepped out of their niche, able now to speak without fearing she would wake Tezo.
"Thank you, Kidondo.... I don't know how we will be able to repay your kindness." Moja bowed her head in gratitude, and smiled.
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Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 1:41 pm
Mteketezo'dubu was curled up against her mother's side, settled deep in sleep. She hadn't had a solid's night rest in a couple days and having shelter and security where she could sleep safely was a blessing and a comfort. The little cub didn't even stir as her mother stood up and left her side. After a moment her body registered that the warmth that was curled around her was gone and she rolled over trying to find it. When she rolled over to nothing her eyes fluttered open slowly and she glanced around. "Mom?" Her voice was stronger than it was the night before, and slowly she pushed herself up to her paws clumsily making her way over to Moja.
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