Achal was thoroughly enjoying his time with Siti, Jasiri and their family. He loved their five cubs and even their two older sons. It had even shocked him the Korrin was like Aurora and although he was all grown up he was still small. Currently he sat outside the temporary den watching as the family played together. It was a sight he sorely missed.Tendaji had just gotten trounced by Lila once again so after making a face at his little sister, he walked off towards the den calling out behind him happily, “I’ll get you next time see if I don’t” He saw Achal sitting outside of the temporary den but didn’t slow his stride so he arrived quickly at the den. The large male didn’t worry Ten because his mom and step-dad let him in and besides Achal was pretty cool.
"Hello," said Achal, "your Tendaji right. Looks like Lila got the better of you this time, but you'll get her next time right."Achal sat up and smiled. "You kind of like me in a way, I have four sisters too, but your lucky, because you have two older brother too. I have no brothers."
Achal flicked his tail back and forth looking down at Tendaji and wandering again if Jasiri really was their father. He'd heard them calling him papa and he was Siti's mate, but the cubs did not at all resemble him.
“Hi.” Tendaji said as he paused in front of Achal. “Yup, but I go by Ten. Normally only get called Tendaji when I’m in trouble.” He added sheepishly. “I know I’ll beat her one day but she keeps flipping me…” he trailed off since he didn’t want to go into how his sister keeps beating him.
“Yeah having sisters is ok I guess.” He shrugged and added, “Well playing with Udo and Korrin is really fun, and the girls are fun to play with too I guess.” Ten smiled inviting Achal to join him in his ‘girls are yucky’ joke. “Really though… there my sisters” And he once more shrugged. “What were your sisters like? Where are they? Do you wish you had brothers? Why can’t you just make some one your blood brother? That way you would have brothers.” In his normal fashion Ten rattled off a few questions with hardly a pause for a breath.
"Ten huh, could sworn I heard one of your sisters call you Tenji." Achal laughed lightly and Tendaji's musing. "One day you will be a lot bigger than her and it will be very hard for her to flip you. Do not fret your day will come. For now I'd watch the way she moves. I bet it is all her climbing the makes her a bit, stronger, more agile and quicker than you."
Achal laughed at Tendaji when he mentioned his sisters, he'd never felt that way about his own sisters, so he couldnt relate but it was still funny. He listened to Tendaji's carefully before attempting to answer.
"My twin sister was kind and fun, but she longed for adventure and left a long time ago. My younger sisters are well behave and very affectionate, but they are all grown up to, along with my adopted daughter. She is just like your brother Korrin, all grown up but still small. Her name is Aurora."
Achal sighed slightly saddened, thinking about his family. "As for brothers, it would be nice to have one, but I do not mind having all sisters and I never thought to just make someone my brother."
Achal was very surprised he could answer all Tendaji's question, but having raised for inquistive girls it wasn't too hard.
“Well yeah Lila calls me Tenji but mostly others call me Ten.” Tendaji shrugged while mentally cringing at the thought of some of the heights that Lila had climbed too. “Yeah Lila takes after momma in that she loves to climb. I do it too but I like my paws planted on the ground a bit more then she does.” He remembered that day on the beach when he almost fell out of a tree with some trepidation so to prevent a repeat of that day he normally only climbed so high before stopping.
He paused for a moment to think of how to respond, he didn’t want to hurt Achal’s feelings with careless words. “I’m sure you will meet your sisters again some day and your daughter will always be with you, along with your sisters, in your heart.” As he slowly said this he picked quite a few long stems of grasses. Looking down at the small pile of grass at his feet he remembered one of the few things that Huni taught him, braiding/weaving, and started to braid the long grasses into a thick bracelet, the first thing he had ever intentionally made. “Well I don’t think I would work as a brother but how about a nephew?” Tendaji asked as he gave the scruffy looking, large and bulky bracelet to Achal. “I know its not pretty but,” once more he paused to think out his sentence fully, “but each grass represents those you have met and those you have yet to meet, braided into one whole all show their love for you. And even if one or two pieces of grass brakes off there will still be traces of the whole grass deep in the braid, never to be forgotten.”
Achal nodded, "That is wise of you, I do not think lions are really meant to climb, but it seem Lila is very much so meant for the trees."
Achal watched as Tendaji made the bracelet, it was awkward but the thought behind it was so kind Achal was greatful. He smiled taking the bracelet and allow the cubs wise words to fill him.
"Thank you Tendaji, that is very kind of you and you are very right. They will always be with me. Those are very wise words for one so young. Your parents have done a fine job of raising you all."
Achal stood and slipped the bracelet onto and just above his paw. It fit snugly and Achal was glad he would not loose it. "Come now, let Uncle Achal teach to how to pin you sister Lila."
He paw was fine now, but he hoped he be allowed to stay a little longer with the family. He loved the feeling of warmth he got from them and wished even more to have it for himself. He couldn't wait to have little one of his own running around again.
When Achal accepted his bracelet and even put it on Tendaji was very proud even though he kept quite, someone was wearing something he made. And when he called him wise Ten could only smile shyly, sometimes Ten can’t help but respond and ask questions that an older lion would ask but no one had called him wise before.
So when Achal offered to teach Ten how to pin Lila, he scrambled to his paws with a bit less grace then normal. “Could you? I mean I’ll work on my own but I think you could help me a lot. Besides I’m tired of hav’n to lose to her, even tho she’s my sister its still embarrassing.”
Achal laughed ruffling Tendaji's growing mane slightly. He was feeling light and relaxed, sort of being a part of this family for a while. An uncle, as well as a brother and father, who wouldnt be happy.
"Of course, but we have to find a good place to practice. I think I know just the place. Why dont you go tell your parents we will be down by the river and the Uncle Achal promises to have you back before sun down."
Achal grinned and waited for Tendaji to scurry off, he was looking forward to the fun and playful lesson.
Tendaji smiled up at his ‘uncle’ and said happily, “Ok, be right back.” before he scrambled off into the grass to find his mom or dad. It only took him a moment or two to get permission from Siti before he was heading back to Achal, ready to begin his lesson.
~Fin
