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 Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 5:59 pm
"Grandma, why is the sky so big? Grandma, why does the Great Lion look away? Grandma why don't Uli or Aoede live with you? Grandma, why?" Andama, affectionately called Andy was inquisitive, to say the least, asking his maternal grandmother a million questions without pausing to hear the answers that would come from them.
"Grandma, do you think that one day the Great Lion will look at everyone?" He was flopped onto his back looking up into the night sky, just outside the family den. Andy and Rika had insisted on spending the night with grandparents, and much to their pleasure Nerit and Unyezi agreed to it. Rika was sleeping just inside of the den, and the little cub could hear the sound of his grandfather's snoring from within.
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Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 6:49 pm
Turning to the little juvenile as he squirmed with anticipation for answers she smiled.
"Let's see, Little Andy... The sky is large because there is a lot of land that needs to be covered, it would be so odd to see land without a sky, wouldn't it?" She paused allowing him to soak up what she had said before continuing.
"I don't know why the Great Lion looks on some and not others, I do know that those who he does not look upon are just as loved and cherished as those that are. When he looks away it is the job of the pride to ensure safety to those that don't have his favor." She hoped it wasn't too intellectual that it would go completely over his head. "A lion cannot be wakeful and looking at all times, I believe the same goes for the Great Lion, he gives us as much attention as he can." She hoped that was a satisfactory answer.
"Why such questions, my dear?" The grandmother stifled a yawn and poked her nose down at him. She knew Indu did not treat them as if they were slaves, did not look down upon them, was someone else putting such thoughts in the little male's mind?
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Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 6:54 pm
Andy looked up listening enthusiastically, each time she came to a place in her answers that he did not quite understand his little brow would furrow and look of puzzlement would cross his face.
"I guess that makes sense, the sky is sort of like the land's mane, everyone has fur on their heads," he giggled his answer and thought about the religious questions and their answers.
"I..just want to know about The Great Lion...he doesn't look at me like he does Aoede or he does Mama..he's different to me..and I want to know." He rolled onto all fours and padded closer to press his body against his grandmother's legs for comfort. "Is it wrong to think about the Great lion this way?"
"And you did not answer my questions..why don't my uncles and aunt live with you and grandpa anymore?
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Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 7:00 pm
Nerit's heart pounded in her chest, it was too late for such philosophical questions, and too early in Andama's development to fully explain religion, The Great Lion, and ranking. Nerit was a full believer in the pridal ways, as was her entire family; Indu had, had her lapse in faith but had come back to the pride and their ways.
"My dear one, it is never wrong to think, ever. You can think and ask as much as you'd like." Nerit wrapped a paw around him, "My little Andy, you will have a long, long time to think of such things. I know you will get sick of hearing this but, 'you will understand when you're older' that's the only answer I have for that." Nerit did not want to shy him away from the Pride's beliefs, but did not want to tell him something now that could alter his developing relationship with the religion either.
"Your Uncles and Aunt have become adolescents, when you grow up you move out of your den and start to live on your own, or with other lions. They're about the age to take mates and to start families."
"They can always come back and visit, and they do all of the time, you know that."
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Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 8:46 am
Andy wrinkled his name and settled into his grandmother's embrace; the little lion did not care for the idea that he would understand when he was older. He wanted to understand now.
"I wish sometimes that I would grow faster so that I could understand things..and so that I can move out on my own like Uncle Aoede or Uli," he let out a long yawn and paused to think for a moment.
"Eww, why would they want to have children? Girls are icky, why would they want mates?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 8:50 am
Nerit's mouth widened into a yawn, after all they were infectious and it was quite late in the day.
"Please do not grow up too quickly, my little one," Nerit answered quietly, "You will miss being little and having no responsibilities. Besides, I like it when you're this little, soon you'll be as big as Aoede or Grandpa..and then you wont be grandma's little cub anymore." She didn't think that was quite right, her first grandson would always be seen as a baby to her, even as he grows she will see him as her small one, her first grandcub.
"Another one of those things that you will understand when you are older," the grandmother chuckled warmly at the thought. She would certainly start to feel old once Rika and Andy start having children of their own!
"Do you have any other, less philosophical questions? Or is it bed time?" She inquired.
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Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 8:55 am
"Why? When I grow up I will be just like you and grandpa, I will work hard and meet everyone, just like you guys do!" He had grasped the concept of slavery oddly, he thought that there doing errands for others was similar to being a very good friend that constantly does favors.
"I never want to understand girls, not ever! The only girl for me is Rika, and that's because she's the best sister under the moon!" Andy popped up onto his back paws enthusiastically and tilted over back into a sitting position.
"I have more questions, Grandma. It isn't bed time. I don't think I could go into the den anyway, not with the way grandpa snores." He looked up at her with his dark pink eyes pleadingly.
"Was Grandpa really a king?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 1:27 pm
"Meet everyone? and work hard?" She looked puzzled slightly, "I suppose that's one way of looking at our job. I hope one day you work hard along side us, and we can help those that look out for us." He had so many questions and such childlike reasoning.
She looked down at her grandson chuckling, and hoped that he would keep his views of 'Rika. They seemed close for siblings, and Indu was doing such a job with them.
"Questions, questions questions," she exhaled and then her breath caught, he wanted to know about the past..
"Grandpa Unyezi was really once a king, he loves his pride very much...and he loves your Grandma very much..because of his love, you stepped down as the king and chose me. That is a very big question, for a very small boy."
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 5:57 pm
Andy looked at her his attention drifting from Nerit to the snoring Unyenzi in the den. He didn't quite understand the concept fully of love, but knew how much he cared for his sister and mother. Andy had a small different understanding of Unyezi, he was bound and determined to learn more about Unyezi the king..and now slave.
"That seems like a whole lot of love, Grandma," The little juvenile nodded slowly. He was fighting falling asleep because he wanted to stay up with her and talk some more, but he found himself with out any more questions.
"Can we go back into the den? Maybe if we poke grandpa he'll stop snoring."
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 6:26 pm
Nerit liked that statement as well, little Andama had interesting ways of viewing the world and explaining them. She supposed that had a lot to do with the way Indu was raising them, and to do with the way Indu herself was raised.
"I think Grandpa has a whole lot of love for a whole lot of lions, including you and 'Rika," Nerit raised her paw and gave him a pat on the head, "I'm not sure he'd like to be poked, but we can cuddle in. C'mon little one."
Nerit turned, happy that the barrage of questions was finished for now, she knew he would have many more, but it didn't matter, some of the hard ones were out of the way.
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 6:31 pm
He slowly moved from his place and with one last look started to wobble in after his grandma. He was fighting sleep long enough that now moving seemed like such a chore.
"I hope one day to be a lot like grandpa," he said tiredly, his words mumbled, "that seems like a good idea."
He looked at Nerit as she cuddled laid down next to Unyezi and made a space where he could snuggle in. He slipped in between them and let out a small feline yawn before closing his eyes.
"Night, Grandma, Night Grandpa."
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