Nuru still got lost in the pride, and she was rather detatched from the members. It was odd, she thought, but she supposed it came from her own nerves, and the tentive steps, especially with her own past of an unfriendly pride.
She kept trying to remind herself that this was a new pride, and they were peaceful. She observed, still, from a distance, hesitant to join in with the absolute beauty of the tight-knit community.
With a small sigh, Nuru lowered her head to the water of the river and lapped up it's life-giving water, pondering how to break down old barriers and leave the past in the past.
Mel trotted towards the spring, not having a litter to watch for now. The last cubs she'd watched were grown now, Tarajali, and so she only helped out the other Mlisha when they needed it. She did so miss having little ones around her though. It was one of the times she was happiest during. And...she envied her brother a little. Her 'twin' had found himself a wonderful mate. Mel herself hadn't had much luck yet. There weren't many like her in the pride...and the only two she could think of were very happily mated to each other.
It was a slightly depressing train of thought. When she reached the spring, the beginning of the river, she blinked. A...new face? Well, this was exciting! She perked up a bit. "Hello! New to the pride? Or are you a visitor?" They didn't often have visitors, but there were some, now and again.
Nuru swiveled her head and eyed the new-coming lioness for a second. "Ah, I am new here," she answered, with a bit of a tilt of the head. Her heart almost caught in her throat, having let her gaurd down since coming to the pride.
Didn't mean no one could sneak up on a lioness though. Nuru gave a quirked smile. "May I ask your name?"
Yay! It was always good to know another had joined their ranks! Mel gave a slight bow. "My name is Kaimelar. But most call me Mel." Mainly because she and her 'twin' had such similar names. "Might I inquire yours?" She was such a pretty female...the last time Mel saw an adult so pale was...well, Nima'baha! Even Koka had some darker markings on her.
"Mel, then," Nuru turned to face the female completely and dat, letting her eyes wanter over Mel's makings, eyes, and mane color, and committing them to memory. "My name is Nuru'Tetesi, though Nuru will suffice," she answered.
Well, she hadn't been around company for a while now, even being in a pride at this point. Mel would be the first other she talked to in actual free-caring conversation had been this beautiful, and a pretty little creature at that.
Mel smiled brightly. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Nuru!" She sat down, tail twitching slowly behind her. "So...what job have you taken up among us? Or have you not decided yet?" She knew things could take a little getting used to for those born outside the pride. And not all newcomers were able to decide in a day or two. "If you haven't, don't worry. We wouldn't want you to choose something that does not fit you."
"I am still thinking about it, as I am unsure at this time. Though, I would like something that I can use my mind for. I love puzzles, tactics, things like that, you know?" She gave a small frown at the thought. "I do not know the names of all the ranks yet, though, or how they work..."
"But, is there anything like that?"
Mel blinked, then looked thoughtful. "Hmm..." There...were two such ranks that could easily utilize such things. "If you like to fight, there are the Shetani'msasi. They're the ones who fight the demons head on. And then...there's the Mmoja mpaka Halisisha. They can fight when they need to but...they seek to bring those demons who have not passed the point of no return into the light. The two ranks work hand in hand most often."
Nuru gave a small nod of understanding, a small frown dancing across her maw for a breif second. "I with think further, but I prefer not to actively fight unless needed..." The second rank interested her, and she quirked her smile at it. "You are a great help, Mel," Nuru bowed her head lightly. She didn't want to embarass herself by slaughtering the rank name, however.
"I am curious, though, what rank do you hold?"
Mel giggled. "No problem! I like helping out." It made her feel a little more useful when she had no littles to watch. "Oh! I'm a Mlisha. I help watch the cubs. Though...I'm a bit superfluous at the moment. The litter I was watching grew old enough to begin training in earnest for their chosen rank." She was content though. There had been no rank more perfect for the lioness. "It's rewarding, to see them working so hard, nearly all grown up."
Nuru gave a bright smile. Mel sounded like a mother, and she breifly wondered if she was, but the thoughts of her rank clouded and swirled over the matter, swallowing it. "It sounds like quite a rewarding job," she agreed. "It seems to suit you."
She gave a small pause, contemplating for a moment.
"Thank you, Mel. I believe I need to go talk with the Mwezi now, though. As I said - you have been a great help to me." She offered a kind smile. "I hope to talk with you again," red eyes dazzled with warmth and gratitude.
She felt the skin under her fur grow a little warm. "Ah...thank you. It...it is a rewarding job. I enjoy it very much." Oh dear. That smile of Nuru's had her tripping over her tongue like a silly cub. This would not do! Though...she was a pretty lioness. Perhaps if she grew used to that smile...
"It's no problem." Her own green eyes were happy, meeting Nuru's despite her slight embarrassment. "I hope to talk with you again, as well. If you ever want to...well, I'm not really all that hard to find. I'm usually wherever the cubs are, or curled up somewhere warm."
"Alright, then. I will seek you later," she told the Green-eyed Mlisha, and let herself wander to find the Mwezi. When she completed her tasks, she would return to find the blue-maned female and speak with her again.
