Tarajia was filled with glee. She had approached her parents...and they had given her their blessing to really begin her training! Before now, it was just spars with the others youngsters who were more martially inclined. But now...now she could REALLY get to training! The normally calm adolscent found herself grinning. The question was...who would she be apprenticed to? Her parents seemed to be a bit lost to that themselves. Her father was too busy, and her mother was not really...fit for the position Tarajia sought.
In the leopon's mind, that left only one lion, really. Ka'hmesh. Tara had a healthy respect for the lion and his mate...not to mention she adored their little ones. Perhaps HE would be willing to teach her. Nodding, her face a bit more solemn now, she turned and made her way to the sandy lion's den, hoping he was there. Though honestly, she wouldn't mind if one of the cubs was either. Sweet bunch of little ones...
In point of fact, Ka had just left after talking to one of his sons - intending to find another of them and discuss what the now-juveniles would like to do for the pride once they grew up. It was important to decide as early as possible so that they could start the first of their training.
Shakil was there though... flopped on a flat rock and looking quite serious and even maybe a bit depressed.
Tara blinked as she spotted the juvenile and smiled slightly. It was a calm expression, probably inherited from her mother. "What has you keeping a straight face, Shakil?" Despite the growing size of the pride, they were still small enough it wasn't hard to know each member of the pride by face.
And it was strange seeing one of the young ones looking so...serious. Well...other than Xinavane's.
Shakil was thinking so hard about the things he and Ka has talked about that he kind of jumped at the other's voice and then flattened ears. "Oh ... nothing. Just... dad was talking to me a few minutes ago about what I wanna do when I grow up..."
Tara kept her disappointment hidden. So she'd just missed him. Ah well...she'd see him soon enough. "Really? Do you know what you want yet?" Despite Tara's own zealousness, she knew full well not all would know what they wanted early in their lives. The gray leopon sat and gave the juvenile her full attention. Mlisha she wasn't...but she loved young ones nonetheless.
"I ..." Shakil started, then stopped and shook his head. "Not really. That's the problem," he said miserably. He knew what he probably -should- choose, but it was just... getting up the courage to actually do it.
Tara chuckled softly. "It's not a problem, Shakil. You're still young." She raised a paw to pat the lion on the head. "Follow your heart and your head. Keep confidence in yourself." That was key to everything. It was why her mother led and she followed...why even Enzi was able to go forward, despite his fears.
Shakil blinked at the older female then nodded, slowly smiling. "Yea... you're right. And Dad said to think about it. He never said I had to pick -today-..."
"That's right." She liked seeing the other members of the pride smiling. "When you're ready to choose, you'll know it. Your heart won't let you ignore it for long." That was where they really differed from the demons...No matter what, the pride didn't loose their hearts, the WHY of why they were fighting. "And when you know, don't hesitate to speak up."
Shakil nodded, obviously much happier now. "Thanks, Tara... I'll remember that," he said - perking up with tail-tip twitching. Then he eyed her a bit. "D'you know what -you- wanna do?"
Tara's soft smile grew into a small grin. "I do. I want to be like your father. A Shetani'msasi." Hunting down those who would not abide peace...perhaps, in a way, it was nothing more than vengeance...But Tara had never been a soft leopon. No...no matter what, she wanted to make sure NOTHING could get away with what her aunt had done.
Shakil smiled at that and nodded. "You would be good at it... I think..." he replied almost shyly. Really, that was what he knew that he -should- do as well, since it was already apparently that he had Ka's build. And the few times he'd tried to help the healers, he had failed miserably. Either he didn't remember the right herbs to use, or he was too clumsy and ended up causing more pain to the one that was hurt.
Tara's grin returned to a smile. "Thank you." Despite her conviction, it was always nice to know others supported her, no matter how small that support was. "You know...there's more to us than just demon-hunters and healers. Eventually...someone will have to care for the cubs, and others will have to guard the borders. And there's the other halves of the Shetani'msasi. Mother says one day, I'll find someone who is 'Moon to my Sun'...a Purifier." The subject almost confused Tara...but her mother had told her, over and over again, that not all demons were evil. Moto herself was living proof. "They will find those demons who seek to live WITH us rather than against us."
Shakil looked a bit nervous at that, but nodded. He knew that hie mother's father had been the demon god, after all... but still, he didn't think of Farlest as a demon at all. Farlest was just ... mom. "I guess so," he murmured. Then he tilted head a little. "Were you looking for dad?"
The leopon nodded. "That I was. But I think you needed my words more than I needed to find him, at the moment." Words...not wisdom. Wisdom was something one only gained on their own...it could be imparted, but not truly learned from another. Words though...words stayed with a creature, no matter how quietly.
Shakil thought about that for a minute or two and then nodded. "I think so too ... thank you Tara," he said seriously, smiling at the older female.
"You're welcome, Shakil." She pat him on the head once more. "If you ever need someone to talk to, or to just listen to you...I don't mind if you want to seek me out." Everyone needed someone who wouldn't judge them. "Now...which way did your father go?"
Shakil nodded at that, ducking a little at her patting him on the head. "He weeent uhm... that way," he said finally - motioning over toward the stream with one paw. Maybe he could at least give fighting a -try- ... since he didn't seem to be good at much of anything else. It was better than sitting around being depressed anyway...
Tara nodded to him, a sort of bow. "Thank you. I shall see you around." With quick steps, she took off for the direction he'd pointed him. After all...the sooner she talked with Ka'hmesh, the sooner her training might begin.
