|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 8:54 am
(( This RP is set before Ripuka gives birth ))
She was almost ready.
She didn't know how she knew, didn't know what triggered inside of her to let her know that it was almost her time. Maybe it was that she was so big it was clear she couldn't get bigger without exploding. A few more days and she'd be a mother to cubs.
Many cubs, judging by the size of her.
She only left the den now-a-days for water and to sun herself. It was the only good way to rid herself of the desert's nighttime chill. That was what she was doing now.
Makaa was out hunting for her and Jua, after their chat about motherhood, was clearly resting up too. Either way, Ripuka was comfortable and she was happy.
She lay on her side, her hind legs sprawled beneath her and smiled up to the sun as it warmed her face.
Yes, she adored the sun.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 9:18 am
He would never admit it, but the closer they got to the heart of the pride lands, the more Jiryan's stomach began to writhe in discomfort. Outwardly he appeared perfectly calm, but the slight tightness around his eyes was probably a sign to anyone who knew him well enough to look for it. He had grown comfortable enough with Kenna over the past few days, certainly, but what was one lioness compared to a whole pride? He was facing the need to prove himself, not just to this Ripuka character, but to a whole pride it seemed like. If he didn't, well, he certainly knew all the disastrous things that could happen and no matter how light-hearted and joking he remained about it, he certainly didn't want to end up in any of those possible outcomes.
Ji's bright eyes rolled towards Kenna as they began to pass lions more frequently, the attitude of those such towards her making his brow crease, though he said little. He simply watched her, taking some measure of comfort at walking in with her at his side (which was quite backwards from everything he believed in, to be honest). "So where is this Ripuka lioness?" he questioned, flicking his tail as his gaze swept the lands. He tried to ignore the gazes on him, for there were those he was sure were quite interested in who he was and why he was there.
He just wanted to get this talk with Ripuka, whoever she was, over with. He trusted what his father said was true, and Kenna herself had recognized the names of his grandparents, so he had no doubt that this lioness would tell her that he was speaking the truth. What the importance of Ripuka was beyond that, Kenna hadn't said, and what he would have to do after they spoke to her was not discussed either. He was walking into this with his head in a cloud of mystery and it left him feeling on edge and uneasy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 11:24 am
Anticipation burned in her stomach, but none of it showed upon the queen's face. In all honesty, she wasn't sure what to expect from the male beside her, but whatever it was, oh, she knew it would be rather funny. After all, he wasn't even aware she was the queen of the pride. His reaction would be worth having hushed up; she hadn't really felt the need to flaunt her title, for Kenna liked others respecting her more for whom she was than what she was. She liked thinking that Ji was treating her in an honest way, where as she could never be truly sure if a lot of the pride members even treated her honestly... if they'd have treated her the same way had she not been queen. Then again, had they not done so, they'd have found themselves with a face full of claws.
As they passed pride members, Kenna offered them each a mild nod before continuing. She'd been sure no one would have questioned Ji walking with her; as far as they were concerned, it might have been an older member that had been lost during the rebellion and brought back now. Either way, even if they did not approve, they were smart enough not to approach Kenna about it.
She directed herself towards the large rocks she knew that Ripuka was so fond of, specialty now that she was full of cubs, "You'll see soon enough," there was just a hint of mirth in her voice, something that had been been rare in the past, "See those large flat rocks up ahead? Ripuka likes them. She's full of cubs, you see, so she loves to sunbathe there," she jumped over a boulder and climbed up a couple of others till her bright red eyes landed upon Ripuka's slumbering body, "Ah, Ripuka. I brought... someone you should meet," allowing herself to sit, she waited till Ji had placed himself beside her frame, "I think you'll find this rather interesting, if not a blast of deja vu," the last bits of info were mostly a hint.
She knew, oh, she knew. What she wondered was if Ripuka knew she knew.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 1:19 am
The old storyteller had not expected company. If she had, she probably wouldn’t have allowed herself to drowse in the sun. As it was, Kenna’s arrival took her by surprise. Her eyes flared open and she turned her grizzled head slowly to face the queen and—
—A stranger!
Ripuka’s first instinct was to leap to her paws, to growl and snarl and threaten. However, it was clear she was in no state to do so. Instead, she shifted her position so that her stomach wasn’t so vulnerable to lashing claws. A moment later and she realised anyone in the company of the Queen would certainly not mean her any harm.
She was an old girl – though not so old that she couldn’t be a good mother. She was realistic, however. She knew these cubs would be her last, knew they’d cut her life short. What with her battle wounds and the strain the cubs were taking, she wasn’t sure if she’d live to see another year go by. Even still, for her cubs nothing was too much. Not even her life.
One eye was a brilliant gold – like the flare of the sun. The other was cloudy and sightless – as it had been since she’d been young. It had been a terrible burden as a youth but – with time – she’d learnt to accept that she had a weakness and had done well to overcome it.
On the blind side of her face thick, ugly scars marred the side of her muzzle. The whiskers that remained were scruffy or broken and the fur had grown over the scars in odd tufts. If she’d been standing, they’d also have noticed she had a weak front leg – her shoulder wounded from her battle with a rebellious slave on the day of the war.
Yes, she’d seen her fair share of hardship.
“Greetings.” She replied with a nod of her head. “Forgive me for not standing…the children are heavy.” And despite that, she gave the queen a smile. Then, her good eye snapped to the other. A male. A friend? But Ripuka didn’t know him and the fur on her shoulders lifted very slightly.
“Who is this?” Her eyes narrowed.
Then, at Kenna’s next words, she returned her eyes to the young female, confusion in her expression. It took a lot to confuse Ripuka.
“Interesting? Déjà vu?” She shook her head. “I’m afraid you have lost me.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:52 am
The way everyone treated Kenna was still mildly confusing to him, though he chalked it up to nothing more than the way she simply seemed to demand respect. It wouldn't have surprised him to learn that she was some sort of general here, though the truth of the matter was probably the very last thing on his mind. He followed where she led without much thought to it, doing whatever she asked of him and simply trusting she wasn't about to lead him into some sort of trap. Even if they weren't the nicest bunch, Jiryan liked to think he had gotten to know her well enough over the past few days to know that she was being honest with him. If not, well, she deserved an award for her act.
"I see them," he said automatically to Kenna's words, following her as she climbed, until he came to the top and had his first sight of the old lioness that Kenna wanted him to meet. He had no doubt it was her - despite the fact that she was scarred, her belly did look, even from this distance, swollen with cubs. The thought half made him smile, a gentle flicker of emotion on his maw, before he let a mask of calm indifference slide back in. Who knew what the lions here would take as a weakness? Smiling at the thought of cubs might not be the best first impression to make. He settled down into a sitting position at Kenna's side, calmly, despite the rather defensive gestures the other female had taken even while just laying on the ground. He listened to the words that passed between them, but really could make nothing of it.
"My name is Jiryan," he offered finally, in answer to the female's question. He threw his gaze towards Kenna for a moment, as if to judge whether or not this was what she meant for him to do, but just as quickly let his attention grace the lioness before him. "My father is Vulcan, son of Akamu and Vulhua," he intoned again, watching the half blind lioness with his own bright, lime eyes - the eyes of a grandfather he'd never met, but whose name he was hoping would earn him a right to be here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
