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 Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:06 pm
His journey was an odd one, one filled with a lot of pain, especially from the Spirits, who told him of his adoptive mother's death. That was behind him, he felt different, new and he tried to look on the better sides of things. His hydrophobia was even going away! Things could only get better!
The pale wing marked lion strolled along the side of a particularly boggy area and debated very hard about going in. It wasn't about fear this time, not at all, it was about returning clean, Lala liked him clean. Dirt clung only to his legs, the rest of his light colored fur exposed.
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:13 pm
Kimya was on edge, after everything that had been happening in the swamps lately she was reluctant to wander on her own but especially without Beshtetu. Not knowing where he was. It wasn't right to be so paranoid in one's own home! Somehow Tetu had gotten away from her and she was intent on finding him. Where could he have gotten to? She was trying to not let her worry get to her as she walked along through the swamps hoping to locate her mate.
Suddenly in the distance, she caught sight of a pale lion moving rather slowly. She edged closer quietly, carefully-- until she realized who it was. It was Hewa! Or.. Gebali? That was how he had introduced himself when he returned, wasn't it?
"Gebali!" she called, picking up the pace and taking a shot on the name.
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:49 pm
Gebali's ears perked and he turned toward the yellow lioness, she looked familiar from before his name quest, and he kicked himself for not knowing her name, although he would only have known her baby name. Was that Noki? All grown up?
"Yes?" He nodded, "I'm sorry I don't..err..know your -new- name." He walked over toward her. The swamps were a lot different from when he left, with Asali's death and the recent odd happenings he didn't know much about, the Spirits were quiet. The spirits in his mind were the manifestation of his seer ability, with the pride saying the spirits were quiet psychologically he had blocked out his visions.
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:05 pm
"Gebali!" she called again brightly when he acknowledged her, smiling when he apologized for not knowing her name, "Don't be silly, ask me my name and I will tell you." It was good to be happy instead of worried, and it was good to see him again. She had plenty of questions about his quest-- and the girl he had brought back with him. And certainly, she had her own stories to tell as well.
She smiled at him, waiting to see if he would ask for an introduction or if he would just wait for her to say. She could have some fun, couldn't she?
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:17 pm
Ask her! Sheesh, she's being playful! He beamed, it was nice to see an old friend. He wanted to know about her life now, how had the Swamps changed? Why did they feel different? Gebali faked a sigh and shrug pretending that it was some great task to ask, if she could have fun, so could he.
"I didn't get to tell you my name either, although you seem to know it from the coming home ceremony?" He asked, but answered his question, "Of course; I am Gebali'moyo. May I know your name?" Knowing what someone picked for their name meant something, it meant they went out into the world far away from home and came back, changed.
Oh, this reminded him! He had seen her brother Pepo! A look of joy spread across his face, "I have news for you, if you'll ask to hear it."
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:23 pm
"Everybody comes to welcome their friends home," Kimya reminded him with a smile, though she listened intently to his his introduction. Moyo, that's right. His full name had two parts, just as her's did.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Gebali'moyo," she said politely, happy to keep their conversation a game as long as she could manage it, "My name is Kimya'kizuka." Her ears perked up when he said he had news for her-- but only if she'd ask to hear it. She was curious but she was also amused by how he informed her.
"What news?" she asked, tilting her head.
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:32 pm
"It's a great pleasure to meet you, Kimya'kizuka," he made a funny little bow and wobbled on the bog's edge. He looked out at the swamp waiting for a moment before speaking again.
"I saw Pepo," he said slowly, "He's still Pepo." That was about it, Pepo hadn't changed his name, although the pride he was staying in had similar beliefs. Pepo and Gebali had spoken for an entire night about home before parting ways. Gebali had gotten the impression the other male had no idea what direction his life was heading, but perhaps it was not heading back home.
"He has cubs as well, although they're probably nearing adolescent now." It was quite matter of fact the way Gebali spoke about his 'news'.
"He wanted me to tell his sisters hello, whenever I see any of them." He didn't want to say that Pepo was probably not going to return and may or may not see his sisters again.
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:40 pm
"Pepo?" she murmured when he mentioned her brother, blinking and falling quiet. Pepo had gone wandering not too long after they had found their father, he had still led them to believe he would be returning to the swamps, to their home. That was why he had gone, wasn't it? To continue his name quest? And now he had cubs, older cubs..
"He's not coming back, is he?" she asked, frowning. Six had left and only three had returned. Now it was just her, Ahli and Jua here in the swamps. Kinya had taken a new name but had chosen to live nearer their father, with her mate and their cubs. Shemshi had never made it to the Pridelands. Pepo had gone wandering. They had worked so hard to stay together after Shemshi had been sent away, now they were all apart anyway.
"Did you see his cubs?"
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:50 pm
He grimaced, he didn't have a straight forward answer to that, "I think that he may come back to visit, to tell you of his travels, and to tell you all about his children. But..I do not think he will ever return to the swamps to stay, no."
"I did not see his cubs, but he talked about them happily. He said they looked a lot like their mother's family in color, but look like your family in appearance." Gebali beamed, Pepo had been so happy to see him and discuss his children.
"There names are..hmm.. Kiraka, Gawain, Wekundo, and Zurina." He was proud of himself for recalling their names.
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:58 pm
Kimya sat down when Gebali said Pepo was not likely to return home to stay, considering the information carefully. She didn't like that they had grown apart as they had, she would have her whole family here if she could. But it was better to know that he was safe, even though he was assumed dead here. Just as Kichea, who Kimya knew she was safe. And Shemshi, but they did not know about her. Perhaps she stayed in the Pridelands with their father, like Kinya had. It was what Kimya hoped for, but she had not heard anything about it.
"They- they sound marvelous," she said after an extended silence, before smiling sheepishly at Gebali, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be so sad. I knew he would be OK, I only hoped that when he proved he wasn't really dead that it was him coming home to stay."
She sighed and then tried to lighten the mood once more.
"You came home with a girl," she observed with a more genuine smile, "Tell me about her."
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:06 pm
Gebali'moyo felt uncomfortable, he sat when she sat and tried to summon words that would make her happy. At least, she knewhe was alive..Hewa was sure he had siblings..somewhere but had no idea about their whereabouts or if they really existed.
He held back a sigh when he said she should not be sad, "They sounded wonderful they way he spoke about her, I wish I could explain them as he had." Pepo had was full of pride and cheer when speaking about his cubs.
"Ohh..umm.." the skin around his nose and cheeks burned crimson behind his pale fur. "Her name is Lalakesha, although..she says she will change it to show her acceptance of our traditions...she's fantastic in so many ways." He felt like he was coming off like a babbling baboon, but when around Lala he felt like it.
"She's quiet, and sort of shy, but very respectful, and she loves family, especially her sister Pipi," he continued.
"Oh..what about you? Did you bring someone home?"
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:14 pm
Kimya cheered up considerably listening to Gebali talk about Lalakesha. It was very sweet, and while it wasn't that uncommon as far as she understood (after all, it happened to her, too!) it was always nice to see something so happy come from the wanderings. It was like coming home with a complete adult identity, not just the name showing you were an adult.
"She sounds very nice, I'm happy for you," she murmured, beaming at him and the adorable blush he had when he spoke of the lioness, "Actually, I did. Beshtetu came home with me, he was feeling out of place and decided a new start here would suit him. He's happy now, which makes me very happy.."
She glanced around.
"I was looking for him just now, actually," she explained, "I don't like the idea of anybody wandering alone right now, though I suppose I wouldn't know if he is since I can't find him." She brushed a paw across the damp earth idly, almost nervously. You can't assume the worst but could you really feel safe?
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:28 pm
"I could help you search for him?" Gebali offered quickly, not liking to think of an old friend feeling unsafe.
He wondered if it was his adoptive mother's death that put so many on edge, or perhaps it was the spirits being so quiet. He had come back just after many suspicious happenings that he did not fully understand. He felt this was not the time for him to be asking her about things that might be making her concerned for her mate.
"Did you go to the last place you saw Beshtetu?" He remembered having to back track to find Indu when they'd lost her for an afternoon.
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:41 pm
"I'd like company," she agreed without much hesitation. She didn't want to wander around on her own and she didn't like leaving him alone either so it solved two problems, "I didn't really intend to lose him, I don't know where he's off to. But I have some ideas."
Kimya got to her feet again, smiling once again.
"I mean, if you aren't busy, of course!" she added, realizing she had interrupted the pale lion when she found him and decided to say hello.
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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 8:46 pm
"I am not busy," he bobbed his head in a very Aadil fashion, "I'd be happy to keep you company." He got to his feet shaking a speckle of dirt from his tail and shimmying to shake clumps from his bottom, a very comical action, so much so he almost laughed himself.
"I'm sure we'll find him in no time!" He gave her his best reassuring smile.
"After you, Kimya'kizuka," he waited for her to start in one direction or another as he would follow an old friend anywhere.
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