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 Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 4:21 pm
Nia sat studying the waters of the river. Not really paying much attention to anything around her the female leopard was enjoying the peace and quiet. Though she knew that if she listened closely enough the sounds of her cubs would reach her. After all she would never travel too far from her family.
After all they were back in the rogue lands now. Nia's golden gaze blinked sleepily. Oddly enough despite the dangers she felt more at peace here than any where else she had traveled. She felt far more free here. Pushing herself to her paws the leopard made her way from the banks to the edge of the river where she stuck a careful paw in. Pausing she looked and smiled to see that the waters were clear the of green scaled beasts.
Mmm. With the heat of summer beating down on her pelt the cool river water was definitely refreshing. Feeling like a cub, Nia splashed into the shallows with a purr.
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 4:47 pm
 Watching quietly from the long grass, the young cub observed what she could. Bored with her siblings, she wanted someone different to play with. However, there was little else moving at this time other than her family. So, her mother was her next target.
Doing as she had been taught, she stayed low and quiet. Well, as quiet as a young cub sneaking up on her mother could be. A few giggles slipped through the grass, watching Nia pounce into the water. Mommy was so silly sometimes. Mommy would never notice her sneaking up while making all that noise!
Grinning at her fortune, she siddled up next to a dry bush a few feet away from the water's edge, forgetting that her fur made her rather stick out like a zebra trying to hide in a herd of wildebeest.
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 4:57 pm
Ears twitching in interest Nia spotted a flash of purple from the corner of her eyes. Hmm. Could it be that someone had followed her from the den? The leopard grinned before ducking underneath the water. Before she resurfaced Nia made sure to swim away from where she had seen the signs of a cub.
Might as well play along.
With another splash Nia pulled herself onto the river bank and with a shake shook off a spray of water from her fur. Still she didn't leave, rather the leopard yawned and laid down to rest against the lapping water.
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 5:24 pm
Zuri was so proud of herself until her mother vanished under the water surface. Her ears perked and eyes widened. Wait- a predator must be patient. But children were hardly patient, and soon enough she was half out of her shelter, sniffing at the air. Could mommy hold her breath for so long?
A splash sounding off to the side, the cub jumped and scurried back into her hiding place, peeking through the bush at where the sound had come from. Allowing her fur to unruffle from the surprise, she crawled on her belly toward where Nia seemed to have chosen to nap. 'Yes, go to sleep.' Zurione chuckled to herself, seeing this as a better opportunity than the splashing water.
She raised her haunches to brace her paws against the ground, her tail twitching high in the air. Remembering herself, she quickly lowered her tail, but figured the grasses covered the rest of her rear. She needed all her power to pounce her prey. She crept closer.. Closer.. Just a little more.. Now! Growling, she leapt forward, baring her teeth triumphantly. That is, until she realized that she needed more than one leap to reach her mother. She couldn't turn back now though! Just another leap or two! One more!
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 5:35 pm
Softly chuckling beneath her breath, Nia listened to the cub's approach. Her tail flicked several times as she counted the number of times she heard approaching movement. True to her hunting instincts, Nia kept perfectly still and patient.
Only a little bit more...
Though as a second thought the leopardess decided to tease her cub. Yawning wide, she rolled over on her back. But her eyes stayed closed and it looked as if she was just moving in her sleep. Though really her paws itched to catch a certain purple cub.
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 5:54 pm
Just one leap away, Zurione skidded to a halt a meer couple feet from her mother when the adult had rolled. She froze fearfully, thinking she was going be caught, but when the rolling paused, she looked for those golden eyes that she had a copy of. They were hidden behind the dark lids.
She breathed a soft sigh of relief. Mommy was still sleeping. She still had her chance to catch her prey! As quietly as she could, Zuri backed up to the bushed and grasses, hunching down again. This time, she would run more before pouncing. Grinning once again at her fortune, she sprang from the ground, running forward and leaping at Nia. She would catch her prey this time for certain!
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 6:10 pm
Silent laughter vibrated in Nia's throat as she peeked at her cub. Getting a clear look confirmed her guess - it really was Zurione. Closing her eyes again as the cub backed away, the leopard let her guard down. Only the faint sound of something moving her way alerted her to the pounce.
Ah!
But she had to wait just right. Holding her breath the leopard counted silently in her head, waiting for the right moment. For when her daughter pounced at her. Then with a playful roar, Nia opened her golden eyes and rolled onto her back to catch her little huntress.
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 6:22 pm
The growl of triumph turning into a squeal of shock, Zurione flailed her limbs when her mother rolled and she was suddenly caught in the leopardess' clutches. This wasn't right! She'd had her prey where she wanted it! What had gone wrong?
Still, she couldn't help but laugh as she was held against the black fur, pressing against it with her paws to try to escape. "I'll get you soon, mommy!" She growled, wiggling around wildly as she sought a way out and to redeem herself.
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Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 3:25 pm
Laughing Nia latched onto her cub. Rolling on her side the leopard licked the cub, "Oh will you?" She grinned and looked at Zurione teasingly, "I'll be waiting for that." With a purr she nuzzled her cub tenderly before letting go.
Yawning Nia stretched while looking at her cub, "Why aren't you with the others, Zurione?" She softly asked after sitting back down. Her tail curled around her paws as she studied her daughter. Exploring was okay with Nia - just as long as her cubs stayed close enough for her to be nearby to help in case of trouble.
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Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 3:53 pm
"I'll getchya when you least expect it!" She growled playfully, purring softly at the affection she recieved. Finally back on her own paws, Zurione shook out her fur and started to lick a paw, brushing it against her muzzle before looking back at her mother.
"I dunno." She said with a vague shrug. She couldn't say she was bored when she had five siblings to play with, could she? "Just looking around." Another couple unintelligable words muttered and the child was content that she had answered properly. Time to change the subject! Not that she intended to; her mind was ready to wander.
"Did you see anything in the water when you swam, mommy?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 4:29 pm
"Alright." Nia chuckled at her daughter's promise. Maybe one day. The leopard smiled as she thought about the fun of teaching her cub the hunt when she was older. Maybe Abrafo would help or one of her older sons - Kamau perhaps.
"Just looking around?" Nia gave a shrug. "If you say so, but be careful not to wander too far." She added the familiar warning without thinking before looking over to the river. Besides the usual murky depths, Nia really hadn't seen much in the waters.
"Hmm. I can't tell you since the river is always changing." The leopard smiled at Zurione, "You could always go see yourself if you wanted to join me." She stood and headed towards the water. Another swim wouldn't hurt.
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 10:31 am
Zurione nodded in quick agreement. She knew not to go to far. They were always saying that to her and her siblings. She didn't want to risk breaking the rule.
Looking over the river, she gave it a hesitant look. She wasn't very fond of the water, but if mommy was going in, she wouldn't dare say no! She was a brave girl! Lifting her chin, she followed after her mother, then delayed her dip by pawing at the water's edge as it gently splashed the bank. "Does daddy swim, too?"
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Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 7:13 am
"Good girl." Nia smiled. At least that was one of the rules that her cubs took seriously. After all the dangers of the rogue lands weren't things to be taken lightly. Stepping into the water Nia let out a purr of pleasure. Unlike most felines the water was a constant relief to her. It definitely made one forget the heat of the day as well.
Zurione's question made Nia pause, "Does daddy swim?" She gave a faint grin, "Well he does have many 'hobbies'. Playing in the river might have even been one of them." She shrugged lightly, "You'll have to ask him about swimming, dear." With that the leopard's paws hit the water towards her daughter.
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Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 9:50 am
Zurione flicked her tail slightly, happy for that little bit of praise. She wanted to make her parents happy. Especially mommy. Well, especially daddy too. Both of them!
When a splash of water startled her, she yelped and jumped back, fur standing on end. She quickly realized what had happened though, and felt her face warm and she shook her fur smooth again. How silly to be afraid. To redeem herself as quickly as possible, she took a deep breath and ran for the water, closing her eyes and jumping in. Bobbing back to the surface, she didn't let out her breath until she was where she could stand in the water. "I'm in mommy!"
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Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 2:05 pm
Nia grinned at her daughter's reaction. How cute. The leopardess couldn't help but to let out a laugh as her daughter ran in. Of course that small laugh soon turned into worry. "Oh!" Nia moved smoothly in the water. Was she okay? "Zurione?" The leopardess called out hesitantly before movement caught her attention.
"Oh." Seeing her cub in the water Nia let out a sigh of relief. "That's great, Zurione." She commented before floating out further into the river herself."Just be careful okay?"
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