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 Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 10:52 am
In her mind, however, he stood for so much more.
Stalling a moment, she looked around to take in the sights, her face emotionless. In her mind, a warmth filled her being, one that was different than the heat around them. It was fulfilling, beautiful and homely. She was home, she was finally home and for once, knew that she wouldn't be leaving anytime soon.
Naraka slowly walked toward his mother, having spent most of the time connected to Moto. Protective nature flew off of his pelt, and he knew that if he moved away, than something could have happened. Unsure as of what, maybe it was just his fear, but he wanted to make sure she was safe at all costs. Taking a deep breath, he settled by his mother and looked around as well...trying to remember what the prince looked like. It was awkward, but he too felt a comfort with the lands he once called home.
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 9:19 am
Kidondo had found his dreams troubling.
Not troubling in that they were nightmares, something that terrified him. Instead they were confusing and unexplainable. He'd had a dream of his unborn cubs, he'd had a dream of his old adoptive mother, Ripuka.
He disliked dreams. Hated them, in fact. Most of the time his sleep was empty and dark, pictureless and restful - just how he liked it. But - it seemed - at times of heightened stress, they reared their ugly heads to torment him in his sleep.
He was stressed now, because of No's pregnancy. She was almost ready to birth - so big that he feared desperately for her own safety. He also feared of what her large size might mean. Many, many cubs? He was afraid because he did not know how to be a father. Afraid because he did not want to make a mess of things. He'd not exactly had the best relationship with his father, had he? And though he doubted he'd do anything so bad that one of his children might wish to kill him - it did nothing to stop the nervousness in his gut.
The time was drawing near and he was no more the wiser.
The dreams of Ripuka, however, he couldn't fathom at all. They were not of her, persay, but rather dreams that had her fleeting through them, ghostly and ethereal.
Her presence in his otherwise normal dreams scared him too.
However, he'd dreamt nothing of Nuri or her son, and was completely unaware of their arrival in the pride. This would come as a pleasant surprise. Nuri was someone he respected deeply. And, this encounter was about to have him realise just how desperately he had missed her presence and advice.
He emerged from the den to go on his usual hunting trip. No's pregnancy had had him working harder than normal to sustain food for them. In fact, with all of these new cubs, everyone seemed to be working particularly hard now-a-days. To think that the gift of life would be one of the hardest challenges for a lion to overcome.
With a yawn and a shake of his mane he moved slowly across the sand.
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 9:29 am
Her eyes drifted off the lands, looking from each and every figure, determining who was who. It was a lazy action, one she found herself always doing these days, but one that was just as important. This test, this view she had upon the fellow lions around her, would be the one to determine just where her prince was. Thankfully, she had seen him as an adult, so she would have an easier time than that of her son.
However, when she finally did set sight on his familiar form, she was not prepared for the reaction her body held. Her breath caught in her throat, and she felt a shiver run up her spine. Shaking it off a moment later, everything that overwhelmed her left her, and she felt nothing. Just the way she liked it.
"There..." she murmured a moment later, nodding in the direction to show Naraka just what the cub had become. Seeing him move his head in the direction, she took a moment to raise her maw, before letting out a fleeting roar, deep and meaningful. It was a call for action, but a call for home, and filled with a love she saved for very few. But overall, it was a call to let one know that she was home, and had no intention to leave anytime soon.
Naraka slowly watched the reaction of the lions around him, though his eyes were set on Kidondo's far form. He held back his anger, knowing it wasn't needed. Instead, he just kept his face void, and waited to see what the king would do in response.
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 9:49 am
The roar.
That roar.
It was a sound that he had learned to love and respect. A sound that instilled in him a great respect, as one would have respect for a great philosopher or teacher. That was what the lioness was to him. She had guided his thoughts, put him into action. She was Kidondo's wisdom.
She was Nuri.
He lifted his head, shrugged off the fatigue, and went bounding towards her with a new-found energy. His eyes - the colour of the desert he loved - were alight with a rare joy. The lion - who had been so emotionles as a youth - would be unrecognisable to those who had not seen him change and grow.
"Nuri!" He called her name and realised then how much he had missed her. "You have returned. After all this time!" He slowed as he drew closer and let his eyes pass to the male at her side. He recognised him from his youth.
"Naraka." He acknowledged with a firm nod of his head.
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 10:10 am
She waited, slowly closing her maw when she was able to recognize his response. Glancing to her son, she sent him a gentle smile, before turning back and taking a few steps closer toward the incoming lion. When he finally spoke up, she bowed her head a moment before raising it up and looking at him with equally bright eyes.
"Kidondo...how I've longed to be in your presence again...to know that our lands are safe...our pride triumphant..." Had she been any other, there might have been a chance of tears in her eyes, for she did feel that emotional when speaking and seeing her world. But, alas, she was a purebred firekin, and thus had her own morals of how to act.
Naraka blinked at his mother's smile, before watching the male come close. When his name was stated, he nodded once, before shifting his weight so that he could block view from Moto as much as possible. Yet, he had a feeling that the male wouldn't notice many other than his mother.
Shaking his head, he listened to the worlds his mother said before letting out a soft sigh, "I apologize for my delay...I was distracted by my own issues...and regret that I had to miss such an influential event that occurred in these lands..." His gruff tone was accompanied by a bowed head, a small grimace of annoyance showing on his maw. He was disappointed with the missed action, and from what he heard from his mother, it would have been quite an event.
Nuri looked to her son, before nodding to his words, "Naraka has had his own journey, and has decided to return with me to our home..."
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 1:22 pm
He smiled at her, clear fondness in his face for Nuri. This elder lioness was a source of wisdom, a source of power in itself. So much of the plan had happened because she was there to fuel it. "I am glad to have you back. Both of you. We are not a small pride, but we are filled with youngsters and the inexperienced. I don't mean that as harshly as it might sound, for I include myself in that, too. This is all very new to me and I will be in need of help in the future."
"Yes. It is done. Our new pride is crafted, Nuri. And because there were others who believed in change, we can no look to the future with hope in our hearts."
He turned to Naraka and nodded simply. The male was older than him by a few months and from the moment they had met, Kidondo had been nervous with him. He couldn't remember why that was, but the feeling remained even now. Maybe it was because he was really the only male he had spoken to who was a similar age as him when he was young. For his siblings he only spoke with his sisters and really...there weren't that many males in the pride right now.
"Don't apologise, Naraka. You had your own battles to fight and you are here now. That is all that matters."
He smiled. "Then I suppose you'll want filling in on all the goings on, here?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 1:35 pm
Her face was void as she listened, a sense of peacefulness washing over her aura. There was no threat in her bones, just the warmth of speaking with another son. Her sons were with her, the one who mimicked her so much as a cub, and the one who took her dreams to new heights. It was a true blessing to be with both again.
"I had no doubt that you would be the one to bring such a peace to our lands. Change has come, and while many may feel unease, it is not from the change itself, but from the future we all are so anxious to have now. We must continue to keep the youth of these lands educated...and I see no other right for that job than you. You...you are the one who has completed the dream we shared so long ago. I thank you, Kidondo."
She bowed her head.
He bowed his in turn, his eyes kept down as he thought over his mother's words. It made sense, that this male would fulfill what they could not, and for once he was pleased with the lack of weight on his shoulders. Maybe he did win a bit more on his journey than he first thought. The eyes of his other half helped him discover the peace he needed.
"We both appreciate your kindness."
He wasn't sure what else to say, and lifted his head to look at his mother.
"Yes...and we did hope you could update us on what we missed...I explained the battle with Naraka...but I am at a loss for much else, since I unfortunately needed to leave so soon."
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Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 9:29 am
He felt a kindle of embarrassment at such words, especially from Nuri - whom he loved and respected with such reverance. He trusted her deeply, for she was the older, wiser lioness, someone who he could depend on without worry or hesitation.
He smiled at Naraka. "Kindness?." He gave a grunt of amusement. "I'd be a fool to turn you away. This is your home and it always will be so long as you wish it. Besides, I am always in need of lions I can rely on. I cannot do this alone, not without my mate and friends there at my side."
"Very well." He nodded his head and sat. "Since you've left, the new ranks that were discussed before the battle have been set into place. There is talk of new ones being added, perhaps one that you may see fit to sit in yourself sometime, Nuri. Most of the roles have now been taken with very few left open. We have our council, our army and our guards. This means we're well protected by attack so we have no need to fear the Safi or any other that comes here intending to hurt or claim this land as their own. We've had little contact with the Safi since that day. A couple of sightings on the horizon, but generally they keep out of sight, so it's likely they aren't going to try anything again soon. In fact, we're going to have a male converting to us at some point." He nodded his head, thinking of Wakia and Umlilo.
He smiled again. "The first litters are here, too. I've lost count of how many cubs we have but the numbers are soon to grow. No should be giving birth soon." He said this with a hint of fear and pride.
"Along with the ranks and cubs, we've also got new members. We've started accepting rogues who come to us. Not just any rogues, I'll hasten to say. We accept only those who meet our colours, mind-sets and strengths and that will never change. Maybe you should meet a few. They're all extremely hard workers and doing well to prove their worth. I hope you'll meet them soon, especially Mteke and the twins, Ka and Kai."
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Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:48 am
She was taken aback at the thought, of the traitors decided to come with the tail between their legs. From the sound of it, the Safi knew the stronger group, and she was pleased at the thought but also disgusted. In her own opinion, they should have joined the proper side in the beginning.
Yet, her thoughts were interrupted with the sound of litters, and she felt a sense of happiness deep in her dark heart. Youth, to be used to fuel the pride and bring more strength and security. That is, security with raising them the right way, which could easily be ensured. When he spoke of No, she paused a moment, and stared him in the eye.
"So the strongest one will bring forth youth to carry his views, his life, and his strength. I congratulate you, Kidondo, and hope that I may be blessed to meet them when they are born."
Naraka too held the thoughts, but suddenly remembered his own daughter. The thought caused him to wonder where his mate might be, and he let out an inaudible sigh.
"The strength of those outside the sands is very strong, and I was blessed to meet many of this strength in my journey. I hate to admit, I was weak for awhile, but that weakness introduced me to the views that you are now working toward."
Nuri looked to her son, listening to his story for the first time. Since they had been together, he spoke very little, and she realized why. He saw weakness in himself, which was understandable.
Casting away the thought, she turned back to Kidondo.
"You know my views, how opinionated I am, but I also support you because I know, since I first met you, that the mind you hold can do no wrong. If you need anything from us, we both will support you with all our strength, and bring forth our knowledge to help you through any troubles that might appear in the future. Finally, the fate of my blood is held in good paws."
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