Chikalawingu:
Chikala lay stretched out across a branch as she thought about her family. She and Jeraha were back to considering having cubs again, Jivu was off doing her own thing now... At least she was completely back to her old self. She missed having cubs around, but she dearly loved her children. It was so nice seeing them all grown up. They had turned into such handsome young lions and lionesses, she just wished she had been able to truly enjoy their cubhood more. Her weakness had made her unable to do much with them.
Hopefully next time she wouldn't have that problem.
Nkosazana:
Nkosazana loved her family, despite how quiet and reserved she often was with them. She adored her sister, and her brothers despite how unique each of them had turned out. She fondly remembered her mother teaching her about unique plants and vegetation that grew all around them. Memories of her father filled her with strength, she knew now it was time to leave and carve out a life of her own. Still the idea of leaving her family was painful, yet they were all slowly drifting to their own ends. For so long she had struggled with her desire to grow up and strike out an independent female, yet now that the time had come she felt like a small cub again.
Ruby eyes caught the familiar shape of her mother she looked so graceful and at ease perched on a branch like a songbird. With a deep breath Zana moved closer before sitting down and peering up. "Hello Mama..."
Chikalawingu:
Chikala looked down at the sound of her baby-girl's voice and she smiled that sweet, cheerful smile of hers. Able to once again gracefully move among the trees, she easily slipped down to the ground to nuzzle her daughter.
"Good afternoon my sweet little Zana," she purred as she continued nuzzling her daughter a bit more before pulling back. And then she saw the look in Zana's eyes. The older lioness' smile faltered and she tilted her head.
"Is something wrong?"
Nkosazana:
"Not wrong..." She murmured quickly trying to reassure her mother. How could she break her mothers heart and tell her she was going to just...leave? It seemed suddenly cruel and selfish, not at all the grand adventure she had imagined it as a young cub. She returned her mothers nuzzle tenderly and forced a smile.
"I was just remembering all the things you used to teach me...about plants, and flowers...it's good to know." she inhaled and looked around unable to quite meet her mothers gaze. "If I ever got hurt...somewhere far away I would know what plants could help me..."
Chikalawingu:
Chikala smiled again, nodding her head.
"I'm glad I had been able to teach you and the others about that..." she replied and really thought about her daughter's words. Far away...
She tilted her head to one side.
"You're planning to go adventuring, aren't you sweetheart?" she asked, continuing to smile, though it was a little sad. She knew she would miss her baby, but it was really only a matter of time.
Nkosazana:
Zana looked at her mother her eyes filled with concern, "You'll be okay right mama? I won't be gone forever..." She tried to sound reassuring and half of her wondered if she couldn't just stay. Still there was an angry voice in the back of her mind that demanded she strike out on her own.
"I'll miss you..." She murmured softly and moved to nuzzle her mother again. "But you and daddy have taught me everything I could need in the world...now I feel like I should go and use that knowledge..." Her gaze met Chikala's with hope, she knew her heart would always be heavy if her mother didn't give her blessing.
Chikalawingu:
Chikala nodded her head slowly.
"It's fine, baby. I'll be fine. I still have your father, and your siblings aren't that far away," she replied, somehow managing to keep her smile. Her heart ached to know that her daughter was going to be leaving, and yet she was proud. Zana was right, they had taught her all they could about the world outside their jungle haven. And she knew in her heart that Zana would be fine on her own.
"And I'll miss you too, Zana. Have you told your father, yet?"
Nkosazana:
"No...I was...I was thinking you could tell him..." She still felt so very small remembering how her father was always there to save her and protect her. If she had to face him she might not have the courage to ever leave. Someday she would make things even again, she would come back and show her father she was as strong and capable as he had taught her to be. Zana doubted he had ever told her mother about her near death experience on the edge of a cliff, her sweet mother would probably have a heart attack. The memory was a bitter one that made her doubt herself even now.
"I'll miss you all, you'll always be in my thoughts though..." She knew her words were a poor consolation to her mother. still...she was right and Jivu wasn't too far...of course knowing her more wild sister Zana didn't doubt that Jivu too might adventure further away from the family.
Chikalawingu:
Chikala laughed and reached out to pull her daughter into a hug.
"I know how hard it is to tell your papa you're heading off on your own. I had such a time of it telling my own parents I was going off to find my own territory," she replied and licked Zana's cheek as she gave her a small little pat.
"Just come back to us with lots of stories to tell?" she asked, then leaned down a little conspiratorially, grinning in mild amusement.
"And perhaps some little ones for your mama to teach to climb trees?"
Nkosazana:
Zana blushed furiously and laughed softly shaking her head "Oh mama, I'm hardly going out to..." She chuckled and sighed. "Maybe if I find someone as strong and brave as daddy I will come back with small paws behind me."
She looked at her mother earnestly and nipped at her lower lip. "I just...I feel strange...driven almost. There's something inside me begging me to go out into the world and see it. I'll be back and hopefully with some great stories." She said the words yet half of her wondered if her tales would be happily ever afters, or horror stories.
Chikalawingu:
Chikala giggled and nuzzled Zana again.
"I was kidding, sweetheart. I wish you safety and happiness in your travels," she said and yet tears still came to her eyes. She leaned down so that she could wipe them away and couldn't help but laugh.
"It happens sometimes. When I was your age, I felt a very similar drive," she sighed, still laughing a bit.
"I'll miss you, my little Zana."
Nkosazana:
Zana saw the faint shimmering in her mothers eyes and her heart tripped with guilt, how could she leave...yet she knew better...it was her destiny to forge her own path. She pressed close against the older lioness and nuzzled her. "I'll miss you too mama..." the words tasted bittersweet on her tongue like a farewell instead of a 'see you soon'.
Ruby eyes filled slightly with moisture but before a single drop could spill into her dark fur she steeled herself and held her emotion at bay. Crying was for small cubs who clung to their parents in times of danger or hardship, and she was no longer a tiny cub, she was old enough now to be able to control herself.
Chikalawingu:
Chikala took a deep, steadying breath before nodding her head.
"You should probably get going before I start blubbering and attract your father and then we'll really be in trouble," she giggled a bit as she said so, giving her daughter a little nudge.
Nkosazana:
Zana nodded softly and gave her mother one more nuzzle and a soft lick to her cheek. "Please take care mama..." Slowly she turned and started to walk away, her head moved slowly as she glanced back at her mother and for a moment her paws froze.
The fear of long ago rose up inside of her, what was she doing leaving the ones who loved her for a cold cruel unknown world? She took a deep breath and turned away from her mother. It didn't matter, the voice in the back of her mind tamped down her fears and forced her paws forward. One after another, slow at first and then faster and faster...and soon the dark lioness was racing away from her cubhood home. Out into the world, alone.
Chikalawingu:
Chikala watched her daughter walk away from her, from the family, from her world. She would miss Zana, just like she would miss all of her babies when they left.
"Take care, Nkosazana," she whispered and burst into tears before running to find her mate so that she could bury her face in his mane and just cry.
