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 Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:52 pm
It may not have been quiet, and it definitely wasn't calm, but there was a sense of peace around the pride. With so many cubs running about lately, how could you expect anything else? Hasana had taken a small break from caring for them. Thank the heavens for Lakisa. The best co-worker anyone could ask for.
Time was no longer on her side, Hasana realized. Her generation was no longer 'the' generation, and she knew her life would clock out before she could see yet another. But leaving this world in the company of her mate and children, and their children was all she could ask for.
When the time came.
That time wasn't today. Today she would spend lazing in the sun as if she was a cub again, drifting her back leg through the water without a care in the world.
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:53 pm
Hari didn't share Hasana's care free outlook. Not today, not ever. Things weren't going so smoothly for her. Not like she wanted them to. The mountain progress hadn't... been progressed very much. More and more seers were cropping up around this goody goody, flower-hugging pride and her mother was beginning to stick her nose in more and more where it didn't belong.
Things had to change. She'd have to make them.
The beginning of her plan wasn't much different from how it had been the first time. Fortunately, no one but her troublesome mother and a few choice original members remembered what had happened then. She was sure she could manage to pick off the seer like she'd done the first time.
Just had to be careful about it, and pick the targets wisely.
Start with the old.
Who was older than Hasana?
When Hari approached her it was with a most lighthearted of smiles. The same she remembered from the past. "Hasana, hello."
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:54 pm
As a cub, Hasana had been convinced she was born to change the world. Lead some huge pride, make history, so on and so forth. Someone had told her once she might change her mind and she'd scoffed at them. If only they knew how right they were. The older she became, the more patient she got.
By now Hasana was sure she was born to be a mother. Down time was not something she had the pleasure of since her first six daughters had come into the world. Not that she was complaining. Her 'alone time' was, more often than not, not actually alone. Invasion to it was expected, so Hari's arrival didn't bother her any.
"Hello, dear. Enjoying the mild weather? Why don't you come talk to me for a while, hm?"
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:55 pm
Hari grinned wider, something mischievous glittering in her eyes. "You bet," she replied cheerfully, taking her place beside the more seasoned lioness. Things couldn't have worked out better for her. Before she axed Hasana out of the picture she had to be sure. It wasn't like she enjoyed killing old friends.
"Actually, I did want to speak with you about something... Your seer powers? How do those work? Are they bothering you?"
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:56 pm
How was Hasana to tell her true intentions? She was a seer, not a mind reader. Had she been, she would have answered much differently. Then again, would she ever be able to believe the sister of her beloved best friend had sunk to such means just to get her way?
"Hm?" The question seemed a bit out of place until she remembered what Hari had told her once. The children of Gods were commonly seers themselves, yet Hari had been skipped. It was unfortunate for someone who wanted the abilities.
The lioness pondered over the question for a time before answering. "No, not especially. They've been active, but not troublesome. It was because of them we were able to save that leopard. She's a lovely girl."
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:57 pm
A lovely girl? Tch. When did leopards and lions start congregating together so much? And mating? Seriously? The mere sight of those half-breeds scurrying around made her sick to her stomach. What were they teaching kids these days?
"Ah. I understand." Not really.
Hari scanned the area and could have banged her head on a rock. Was there seriously no way to get anyone alone in this place? It didn't help their land was so small. If she drug her somewhere else...
"I have another question."
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:58 pm
You'd have thought, being so bright, Nishan would have been detected approaching sooner. Yet, somehow, the adolescent always managed to find them without any warning of his impending presence until it was too late. As usual, he brought himself and his knack for complaining.
What was on the menu today? His favorite.
"Mom, Chyou won't stop being annoying, and Thibiti keeps trying to hit on all the rogues past the Nchi lands again. Seriously, he's making the rest of us look bad!"
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:59 pm
What Hari was going to ask was, 'Can you help me with something out by the Nchi?' Then, she'd lead Hasana to the rogue lands and do away with her. Banking on Hasana not asking what sounded unwise, but the lioness never questioned favors, just went along with them. Even if she had asked, Hari could ask for something outrageous like the old bag helping her with a hunt and she'd still have gone along with it.
Alas, it didn't matter, because low and behold those damn kids were coming back to bite her in the a**. Sure, they'd been the whole reason Mwokoti had let her stay to begin with. Didn't mean she had to like the little bastards.
"Then go somewhere else. I'm sure Nsundu or Kitambi or whoever is running the Nchi today would be thrilled to have you over there making music with them."
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:00 pm
Luck was not on Hari's side. Soon after Nishan came Amira. There was far less of a chance of shooing her away, because she clung desperately to her grandmother's paw the second she was within reach.
"Grandma! I don't want to stay with Lakisa! I want to stay with you!"
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:02 pm
Not surprisingly, next in line to barge in was the sitter in question. She had been giving Amira lessons on being neat and tidy after a hunt when the little darling had someone managed to slip away and run off. Since her father and mother were gone, there was only one other place she'd have gone to.
Yes, she'd been right to assume so. Sure enough, there she was latched onto her grandmother for dear life.
"I'm sorry, Hasana, she just ran off. I was trying to give you that alone time. You know how they are at this age."
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:02 pm
Indeed, Hasana knew all too well. After six daughters and three sons, you would have to know. How the mothers these days were out raising eight plus cubs alone she had no idea. She envied their skill and applauded their patience and courage, among other things.
Hasana shook her head twice and smiled at Lakisa in a way that seemed to dismiss the subject she left no other comment on. Her eyes fell to Amira, soft as ever. "Yes, alright. You can stay with me. So long as you're ready to take a nap."
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:04 pm
The youth made a most disgusted face at the concept of sleeping in the middle of the day. Mom had always told Amira one needed extra beauty sleep, but she didn't buy it. Neither option she'd been given were ideal. Sleep, or take these 'lady lessons'. Hmph.
"Ummm."
What to do, what to do...
Man, this was lame.
"Fiiiine." Amira sighed. "I'll go back with her, I guess."
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:05 pm
Lakisa admired Hasana for many reasons. Mostly because she'd had six daughters to begin with. What more could a mother ask for? On top of that, granddaughters. She was wonderful with all of them, and together they made a great team. Hasana stayed the gentle, soothing one and Lakisa the backbone. Just the way she liked it.
Still, it surprised her that the rebellious little thing had been swayed to change her mind so easily. "Thank you, Hasana. Come on now, young lady." Her voice was laced with the promise of a scolding later on. Alake had to be raising these girls right.
She blamed Bandele.
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:06 pm
"Mom, please come make her stop. She's been following me all day!" Nishan wasn't going to make his mother's life any easier, but it wasn't his fault all his sisters were crazy. Why couldn't they all be quiet and fat and just laze around all day like him and dad?
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Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:06 pm
Maybe there would have been better ways for Hari to stay near the mountain. Too late now. Why did they have to curse her with so many of them? One would have been ideal. They could have 'accidentally' fallen into the water.
"Alright, Nishan. But you should be nicer to your sister." Hari gazed upon her son with a facade of disapproval for his bitterness toward his siblings.
If she got lucky maybe they'd all kill each other later.
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