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 Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 10:19 pm
"YOU...are SO...IMMATURE!" Parizade's shrill voice seemed all the louder as it echoed from the walls of the den. Since they were all just about the same age- Mwali and Sinbad's litters were kept in the same den. It made it easier to keep an eye on all the little ones rather than having to protect two seperate dens. Nearby- Mwali's ear lifted up. It was he on duty today while the others were out hunting, finding water, and scouting their boarders.
The smug smirk smeared over Ali's features only incriminated him further. One of his paws was still smeared in mud. He'd thrown a small pawfull of mud into his sister's face- ruining her freshly bathed fur- much to her outrage.
"Heh heh..."
Makaa HAD been dozing in a corner, replaying his recent escapades in his mind, of how he scratched up his shoulder and met that little white female that had terribly negligent-in-the-ways-of-watching-out-for-their-little-sister older brothers. Had, being the appropriate word because as soon as Para yelled, he was jarred into full consciousness, glaring at his brother's son and his sister.
With a sigh, he stood and shook himself, walking up to Para and inspecting the damage.
"Ali, you're a brat," he shot at his kinda-brother before charging at him, intending to pounce and teach the other cub a lesson.
"Feh!" Ali threw his head upwards at the sharp words. He'd never been the strongest of the cubs, but he always seemed to keep one foot ahead of everything. As his uncle charged, he dropped down to his belly, flattening himself against the ground. It was a lot easier to defend his belly and keep from being knocked over.
"Get him Makaa!" Parizade called out, edging her brother on. How dare that...that..BRUTE ruin her pelt!? She'd spent all morning getting herself in order. If her mother saw her like this- or her father, uncle, or any of her cousins... it'd be shameful!
Makaa had to change plans, quick, because Ali was now flat against the ground. He skidded to a stop in front of his nephew, quickly put one paw on his muzzle, the other on top of his head, took the tip of Ali's ear in his mouth, biting not-so-gently.
"Pa'a, hu'-u'," he growled, attempting to hush his sister while teach Ali a lesson. Makaa probably always would be the first to throw a punch in retaliation.
Ali snorted as his head was pinned down and his ear effectively chewed. Growling, he threw both his paws upwards, shoving and clawing in an attempt to free himself- and perhaps get a bit of revenge for the n** to his ear.
Makaa did his best to dodge the paws and baby-claws, mostly managing to tug harder on Ali's ear once before letting go and backing away a bit, a new sore-spot on one of his back legs where Ali had caught him a bit.
"Well? Gonna keep throwing mud, or did you learn a lesson?" he asked, hi look questioning.
Ali stood himself up, taking a deep, sharp breath to cool his temper. "...Oh. I'll not throw any more mud." He answered, hissing the words.
Makaa frowned at Ali suspiciously, but let it go.
"Good," was all he said and looked back at his sister with a small smirk.
"You should clean up, Pari. You're an awful mess," he chuckled before heading towards the entrance to the den, hoping to find his father outside.
The moment that Makaa's back was turned, Ali whipped himself around, making his move. Claws extended, the young cub leapt out to land on his unkle's back with what might have been an attempt at a roar. "AH-HAH!"
"Makaa!" Parizade jumped over to the brawling boys, frantic as she struggled to pull the two apart.
"Pari I can do it myself!" Makaa yelled at his sister, choking a bit as the grip tightened. Little did Ali know it though, Makaa not had what he needed. Because now he was on his side, and his paws were free to claw at Ali's paws and legs and anything else his claws could get at. He may not be the smartest of Mwali or Sinbad's cubs, but he KNEW how to wrestle.
He just hoped his little sister didn't get in the way and get herself hurt.
Ali, enraged, let out a cub's howl. His paws loosened their grip, only to allow his teeth to bear down onto his brother's scruff. Sinbad encouraged rough play- it built up techniques they could use against likely foes or prey. Ali used it as an oppertunity to claw his way- or would try- to the top of the next generation.
Makaa let out a sharp cry of pain before he twisted. He caused himself even more pain, but he could better claw at Ali, raking claws over anything he could catch. Normally, he would want to hurt any of his relatives, but he was beyond rationality right then.
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Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 10:57 pm
"AARROO!" Ali released Makaa with a sharp kick to ensure that the two were seperated. The cub brought a paw up to the side of his face, eyes wide as he slowly glanced down to a splatter of red. "...you..." He narrowed his eyes.
"That's ENOUGH!" Parizade was inbetween the two of them in a short leap around her brother.
Makaa rolled away when Ali released him. His scruff hurt and felt wet, though he wasn't quite sure what that wetness was. He blinked and frowned at Ali, his breath coming out in huffs. He hadn't meant to cut Ali's face, it'd just happened. He had a good feeling Ali was on the verge of going at him again, when Pari was in the middle. He stepped back, putting more space between them, eyes locked on his nephew.
"Yeah, enough."
li bristled as he drew in a long, sharp breath. He starred hard and long at his two relitives. Within a few moments, it would seem his temper had cooled. He dropped his paw to the ground and stalked himself to the far wall of the den.
Parizade sighed and slowly turned to her brother. "Don't do that again...it was...it was just mud. Are you hurt?"
Makaa frowned at his sister.
"No, I'm not hurt," he said and took the down opportunity to flee from the den in search of his father. He wasn't hard to spot, his father was a big lion. He stumbled a bit about halfway there and his neck still hurt, but he did his best to look as if nothing was wrong.
Mwali was not too far off. The older lion stood just a few yards from the cave, his back slumped slightly as he bent down to lap at the small puddle of water that had been their lifesource for a few weeks...it would soon be time to re-locate.
"Good afternoon, Father," Makaa said quietly when he was side by side with his father. He looked down at the water, but decided that he wasn't thirsty just yet. It was starting to sink in, what had just happened in the den. Should he tell his father? Yes, that was the right thing to do.
"Ali and I got in a fight."
"A fight?" Mwali lifted his large head from the puddle and turned his head. The one remaining eye fell down onto the wound on the back of his boy's neck. "...Makaa....why for?"
"I tried to teach him a lesson, to not pick on Pari. So I just nipped his ear and told him not to do it again," Makaa replied, red gaze locked on the ripples in the water, as his tail curled around his legs.
"And then I tried to leave, but then he jumped me and got his paws around my neck. I managed rolled us over and scratched at him to get off. he bit my neck and I accidently clawed his cheek. And then I left," he explained, lowly.
Mwali shook his head with a long sigh, "Come here, let me clean out your wound..." It wouldn't do to have it get infected. The cubs were still so young. "His father...your brother is a very....violent sort. I will speak to them both."
Makaa scooted closer to his father and bent his head down so that he could get at the wound easier.
"I'm sorry, Father. I didn't think it would escalate that badly. I also didn't think he'd attack me while my back was turned. I... I couldn't tell him what he wanted to hear. The only way I could get him off me was to fight back," he admitted.
"Sinbad....was trained to take advantage of every situation. You must understand that he was born during the rebellion, he was a cub when we were thrown out of our lands...and he still harbors those feelings."
Mwali settled himself down and brought Makaa to lay inbetween his paws so he could clean up the wound.
Makaa huffed and let his dad move him around, contented to lie where he was and let his father clean him up.
"But that doesn't mean he needs to teach Ali and the others to be like that. It's cowardly," he replied and shook his head.
"Father... Why do girls like hugs? I met this girl the other day and she didn't understand why I didn't want her hugging me. I mean, she's a GIRL and hugs are so... girly," he said, completely changing the subject.
He didn't have much to say regarding Sinbad's mindset. It was difficult to explain to someone so young...perhaps when he was older. Instead, he occupied himself with licking the back of the cub's neck.
The second question brought out a chuckle. His Koho... she'd been so tender, so loving. "Girls... like to be comforted. They like gentle touch. Instead of a slap to the back or a bump to our shoulders- girls like...nuzzles, and...well...hugs.
Makaa pulled a face.
"So she'll keep giving me hugs. Great... I was surprised. She was out all by herself, and she's got older brothers. I wouldn't like Pari or Cali or Ifu wandering around by themselves," he muttered, shaking his head a bit.
"She said she was looking for her mom, Ripuka. Did she go somewhere? Do you think I should ask Kenna for her? 'Cause I think they're friends, right?" he mused out loud. It'd be nice if he could give Zapa some information about her mother
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Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:06 pm
His eyes went wide. "Ripuka?"
He knew the small group of traditionalists...there wasn't a lioness by that name. "...exactly where were you when you met this young cub?" His eyes narrowed- "You strayed, didn't you?"
Makaa's ears fell a bit.
"I wasn't far when she messed up my hunt. I was practicing hunting a lizard I'd found. But... we went exploring some rocks a ways away... It was my idea," he replied, adding the last bit to make it clear that he was the one at fault, not Zapa, a natural honesty.
"She said her mom's a storyteller and that she lost her eye in the war, and I thought I'd heard her name somewhere before," he added and looked up at his father. "Did I say something wrong?"
"....she might have been a rebel, son." He said as carefully- but strongly - as possible. "If you had run into her mother, she very well might have killed you. It's dangerous to go out alone- and it's dangerous to talk to anyone that is not within our pride."
He sighed a bit, "Promise me you'll stay within sight of the den. If something happens, I may not be able to get to you in time."
Makaa matched his father's sigh and nodded his head. He trusted his father, but her trusted his memory, too. He'd probably still ask Kenna about the lioness, but he wouldn't go against his father's wishes.
"I'm sorry, Father. I really thought... I guess it doesn't matter. I'll try to stay close to home," he replied, dipping his head in a short nod before settling it back on his paws. Zapa didn't seem like a Rebel, but... He guessed he really didn't know.
"You have to be careful." He gave the cub a pat on his back. He was free to go whenever he pleased. "The firekin are known well and hated outside of our own pride...especially us. They would see Kenna, see her slave, and kill them both. Her to rid the world of a firekin and him to rid him of his misery. We're...really all that we can trust."
Makaa shrugged, contented on staying where he was, as long as his father didn't mind.
"I know, Father. But what if she comes back? I kinda said I'd protect her if her brothers weren't going to. I thought she was one of us, but... I still promised," he replied, uncertain. Promises and honesty were a big thing to him. He probably would learn to use deception when he really needed to as he grew older, but he preferred to be honest. Most of the time.
"You can't protect someone if their enemy is your own family." He frowned down at the cub, something in his remaining eye almost seemed to burn. "And she won't be able to protect you if her family finds out...you'd best keep your buisness."
Makaa looked up at his father while he explained, and then laid his head back down on his paws.
"You're right, Father. What should I do if she comes around again?" he asked softly, keeping his head down.
He looked pained by the question. "...Makaa...can you keep a secret?"
Makaa looked up at his father, blinking.
"Of course I can, especially one of yours, Father," he replied, rolling over onto his side so that he could better look up at his father.
"What is it?"
He sighed slowly. "...when I was young... I was the prince of the firekin. My older brother, Kiu, had all of our father's effections. Mother was killed at a young age- I don't remember much of her... anyway, I was lazy, spoiled....and I didn't see anything wrong with the way that we were living. Over time....I grew tired of living an idle existance. I wanted something more, something that I could be proud of. Kui was destined to be king, I had no place there. I wasn't even taught how to hunt, we had slaves to do that for us." HE shifted himself around slightly to make himself more comfortable.
"I ran away...I freed a group of slaves and they led me to the pride lands. There I met my first mate- a lioness named Koho." He leveled his eye with those of his son. "...you have siblings that are of pridelander blood. The oldest of which took my other eye."
Makaa looked at his father first as if he was jesting, then in almost distaste, and then finally in confusion.
"I... I don't get it. I can understand you getting bored and going to find a mate, but... The Pridelands? And slaves? Wait..." he paused, shaking his head a bit and pawing at one ear.
"One of my other brothers took out your eye? Your own flesh and blood? Father, I don't understand. And why... Why tell me?"
"....you see things differently than your siblings do- and it may lead you to a better life than the one I had and the ones that they have ahead of them...have you seen your sister's slave? What do you make of him?"
Makaa shrugged.
"I've... seen him, but I don't really look. He's just a lion," he replied and frowned in thought.
"What should I have seen?"
Mwali smiled a bit, "A lion. Most are disgusted by him because of the color of his pelt...our pride's mortal enemies are blue-pelted lions known as the mistweavers- though...we've all but wiped them out."
Makaa snorted and shrugged again.
"Yeah, his color's wrong, but he's not really a threat or anything. I donno, I'd have to watch..." he stopped and looked up at Mwali, blinking.
"Is that what you meant earlier, by me seeing things differently?"
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Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:09 pm
He nodded a bit, "Your siblings likely would have seen the cub you met as a threat- you saw a potential friend. It can be a very good quality or a very dangerous one." He glanced to the side. "That blue cub...is what they call a seer. It means that he involentarily sees things....in the future, past, or elsewhere in the present. My own daughter was one back in the pridelands so I am a little familar with their abilities." he glanced down. "Perhaps if you would talk to him....you might find your freedom through a slave the way I found mine. But-" He pointed down at Makaa sharply, "Not...until you are old enough to defend yourself."
Makaa made an almost pouty face at that first bit. She wasn't a friend, she was a girl he said he'd watch out for... Well, maybe she was his friend.
He wondered what it'd be like to see the past or present or future. Not sure he'd like it too much. But when his father mentioned freedom at the paws of the slave like he had once done, the cub smiled and shook his head a bit.
"I wanna stay with you, though. If you stay, I stay," he replied, pawing up at his father a bit.
"...I won't be around forever, Makaa..." he said quietly. "I may not look it, but my body's grown very old. I'm not as strong as I used to be."
Makaa's smile fell into a frown. He figured his father was old, but... He couldn't imagine not being without him or his mother.
"Don't... say that, Papa..." he said, softly. He knew his father was probably right but he didn't want to think about that, not now, not when he still needed his father.
"It's something that we'll all have to come to terms with, son." He said quietly, dropping his head to nuzzle the young cub gently. "Especially the firekin...we are a race built off the blood of our brothers and our enemies.
Makaa smiled a bit and nuzzled his father back. His father and mother were the only ones he really didn't mind receiving affections from.
"I guess so... But can I try and not think about it for now? Can't I just... focus on learning to be able to hunt and protect my fellow pride-members? That's what I'm supposed to do, right?"
"That's right." He nodded a bit, "I just don't want you to be as shocked when death happens... one day you will experience loosing somone or taking a life." He closed his eye and sighed. "Either way...it's a difficult thing to deal with. I want you to be prepaired."
Makaa let the words sink in for a moment and then nodded.
"That makes sense... Okay, I'll try to be prepared. For anything," he added the last part as a short afterthought.
He nodded. "I'll make sure to get you all some training when you're strong enough... or I'm sure Sinbad will be dragging you along after him."
He glanced to the side, "...don't let him catch you talking to the slave...most think it to be...below you."
Makaa frowned and shook his head.
"I don't think I like Sinbad much. I think I'd rather stay with Kenna, if I had to follow one of my older brothers and sisters..." he replied and nodded.
"Of course, Father. I don't want to do anything that would get me in trouble."
"Kenna...." He chuckled a bit, "They all have their ups and downs. You just have to catch them both in the right mood to see the best of it." He flopped over and sighed, "I think I'm going to take a nap."
Makaa shrugged a bit.
"She is queen, after all." He watched his father flop over and stood at his side for a moment before asking, "Can I nap with you? I had been trying to, before Pari's yelling woke me up."
Mwali cracked his eye open and smirked a bit, "Sure... if you don't mind me snoring. I'm told I'm worse in my sleep than when I'm awake.
Makaa grinned and snuggled down next to his father, closing his eyes.
"I've learned to be a heavy sleeper. Someone else snores REALLY bad, but I haven't figured out who," he replied, pausing with a yawn. "Must'a gotten used to it."
"Must have." He smiled a bit and pulled Makaa underneith one of his paws against his chest. "Get some rest."
"Okay, okay," Makaa replied, smiling over his father pulling him close. He was out like a light moments later.
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