|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 12:56 pm
Shani had gone out hunting with some others in the pride and was taking her time walking back toward home. She didn't feel any particular need to rush. It was impossibly easy to get time to yourself now but this was about as often as Shani took advantage of it, after everything that happened it seemed that she had grown to enjoy the chaos. Or, at the least, she liked having someone around. But now was a good time to just walk quietly, thinking about everything that had been going on or that might soon go on..
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 2:07 pm
It had been a little while since Mng'Ariza had gotten out on his own - after the little affair with the rogue lass had left him with two little 'bundles of joy', full of vim and vinager. He had promised himself he would watch over them until their paws passed over the small home he had found in a rush of shock when their mother had dropped them off at his feet - two too many for her to take with her back to wherever she had been.
But he loved Chuju and Masuka, he really did. Taking a few more steps in the beautiful daylight, Ariza found himself fallig out of his head once again, those jumbled thoughts melting away with every step. Children were one thing, me-time was another. Taking a deep breath, he stopped for a moment to look around the pridelands, as as he swept across the grasses, a dark pelted female caught his gaze.
He knew those colours! And the steelish blue tailtip had tipped him off! What a joyous occasion, a chance to catch up with a good friend. Clearing his throat, he lifted his voice so she woudl be able to hear him from over here.
"Miss Shani! It's a pleasure to see you again!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 2:28 pm
Shani's ears perked up and turned at the sound of a familiar voice calling out to her. She came to a stop and turned toward the source of the sound- and immediately she smiled, recognizing the bright eyed, cheerful lion she had spoken to so long ago. Or it seemed like so long ago, it was before Habu and the kids.
"Mng'ariza," she called back, smiling and changing her path to walk closer to have a chat with him, "It had been some time, hasn't it! How are you doing?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 2:41 pm
Aha! Intuition was correct, and it WAS Miss Shani! Bounding down the remaining gap of the plains that seperated them, his bright purple eyes lit up happily as he slowed down infront of the darker lioness, his pelt nearly glowing next to her own.
"I have been well, things have happened since we last met and I've become a sole provider for a few more mouths around my family, but health is still with me and I'm still content with life," he rattled on, before flicking his head and letting his wild mane settle out of his hair. "How about you? I hope you've been well since the last time our paths crossed."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 2:56 pm
She beamed as he bounced down to chat with her, about as happy as she remembered him being. She nodded with each bit of information he offered, noting in particular how he had become a single parent. It was one thing for a female but there was certainly some greater story behind it for a male.. he did not seem put off in mentioning it and said he was content so she immediately knew it was not due to any tragic circumstances.
"I am glad to hear you are so well!" she started, beaming at him, "I have been very well since we last spoke. My family has grown immensely, I have a mate and four nearly-grown cubs of my own now, I have grandsons and more in-laws than I could count." And she loved every single one of them very much.
"Tell me about your family, though," she said, "You have cubs?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 4:08 pm
Ariza chortled happily along with Shani's information, happy to hear that his friend had found her little ray of sunshine. "Much nicer to here you so happy with life," he started, looking up for a moment before returning his gaze to her. "I recall last time you were a little less enthusiastic about things. I'm happy to hear you have such a large family now. It suits you."
"I on the other hand," he started up again, changing the subject back to him as the questions came, "indeed, have become a father, yes. A quick flit of emotions that I mistook for romance with a rogue lioness that flirted close to the the Prideland grounds." He started, planting his bottom on the grass. "Regardless, we were blessed with a . . sizable litter. Seven little monsters running around their mother's den. A bit of a surprirse for me, very much so. But . ." he stopped, scrinching his face up. "I guess she felt 7 was too many to take with her, so she left me with two cubs at my feet, and I've never seen her since."
"Just my son, Chuju Tetesi, and my daughter, Masuka. Who I love, I swear!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 4:30 pm
Shani recalled their last meeting well enough, it had been around the time that Vikasini had been taken from them, it hadn't been a very good time. It was very shortly after that that she and Wahabu had grown closer and closer and ultimately ended up together. He wasn't wrong to say before that things had been much more sad. She listened with great interest as he told his story, unable to hide a frown when he said he supposed the mother thought seven was too many and left him with two.
"Oh, I'm sorry you don't get to have all seven around here with you but I'm sure Chuju Tetesi and Masuka are very lucky to have you," she said, smiling at him. It wasn't a very happy story, though it ended with him having two of his cubs and that was more than some father's got. She knew that from other stories.
"How big are they now?" she asked.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 5:54 pm
Shaking his head softly, Ariza never let go of his soft smile as he looked upon Shani as she voiced her opinion about the subject at hand - almost as if he was shrugging it off a little. "In the past, right? I feel blessed just having Chu and Masuka in my life, even if they tire me out sometimes." He murmured, content with life. "My father was never around, so . . I want to be a good father to those I can."
Hearing her last question, he picked a mighty paw up and brought it up around his chest, his white fluff floating around his paw, his smile growing proudly. "Juvenile. Growing by the day, about here actually." He answered.
"Around your kids' age, a little younger?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 6:34 pm
It was good to see the attitude he took about how the cubs had come to be and the situation of the ones that he had with him. She wasn't about to push the situation, she wasn't close enough to know if that was truly as deep as his feelings on that went and as long as he was happy it didn't matter much what he really thought about it.
"Very close, I'd say. My four are just big enough now to start joining the hunt. They've grown up with my grandsons, and my mate's granddaughters and great-grandchildren, too. It's been very busy around our den," she paused, smiling just thinking about it.
"You all would be welcome to stop by," she suggested brightly, "There's always someone looking for a playmate, and being about the same age, your two wouldn't be out of place."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 7:59 pm
"Goodness, I can't even imagine how it'll be when my two come to be that age." He murmured, chortling softly. "They grow up so fast, when I was younger, I always thought growing up takes forever. . . I guess I'm a father now, aren't I?" He voiced out, content even if he didn't receive a verbal answer, before looking to Shani.
"But, I will definitively take you up on that offer, Miss Shani. They could use a few more friends, keep them busy and maybe give me some breathing time!" He joshed, smiling wildly. "I'm sure they'll get along with your children, if they're as much of a treat as you are."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 8:28 pm
"Yes, you are," she said, beaming at him, knowing all too well how it felt. You were eager to grow up when you were young but watching your own small ones grow seemed too quick to get eager for. And it was always surprising, even when it happened again and again. Manuku was certainly suffering as he came to grips with how this happened.
"I'm sure they'd be quite welcome, two more is almost nothing for how many cubs we've had running around," she said brightly, "Perhaps you could walk back with me a bit, then you'll know where to find us."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 2:48 pm
A small chuckle escaped the white lion when he head her short affirmation of his mental delight, Ariza looked back to the general location of his den, knowing that his wandering two wouldn't be returning to the fort quite just yet - their paws were still fueled with adventure at this time, so, judging on how high the sun was right now, a little escape of his own was sorely past due.
Turning back to the dark lioness, Ariza broke out into a soft smile, nodding his great head to her before taking a few steps back. "I would be delighted to accompany you back to your accomidations, Miss Shani. Ladies first?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 5:54 pm
"All right, then," she said, "If we're lucky, perhaps someone will be around to meet you." By the way she said lucky, it didn't sound like it would be luck at all. Someone was usually around, so you'd be lucky to sneak home unnoticed, really.
"We're out this way," she nodded in the proper direction and then started them off on the walk back home.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 12:56 pm
"Luck has it, I'm sure." He mused, chuckling once again. "If it's anything like home was, when I was a cub, I'm sure luck has no say in what we do." As the dark lioness made her way, Ariza waited a few moments before bounding lightly up to her side, with a spring in his step, before slowing down to keep with Shani's pace, his body still bouncing just a little with the small slip of youth that still clung to him hopelessly.
Having been by himself since he wa able to make his own home, it felt kind of nice to have a flowering friendship - and hopefully a little niche that is two could grow up in. Cubs need friends and familiarity, he mused internally.
Oh well, we'll see how this goes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
