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 Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 9:14 am
 She inhaled a deep lungful as a brisk breeze ruffled her rust colored fur. Nkosazana could smell the rain on the winds. Her claws dug into the soft loam, leaving deep furrows. She was waiting for Kibetinyota; another guard and mate of her brother. They were due for a patrol around the lands.
She looked around as if thinking of her would summon the other lioness. There would be rains before the day was out if she was any judge. Nko wanted to get the patrol done as quickly and efficiently as possible to avoid getting wet or the worst of the rain.
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 1:22 pm
 The Great Lion had called for irregular rains to sweep the pride lands for the past few days, and so the pale lioness was used to embracing the chill waters as each drop landed against her fur. She had prepared herself, walking back and forth in the small shelter of a cave she and Uchanjaa had found for the temporary weather. It was not enough brushing against Uchanjaa for body warmth; despite his larger and fuzzy mass, the lioness rather enjoyed the self-ordained ritual of moving to get her blood running.
When she went out of the cave along with her mate, perhaps their goodbye had been prolonged. It had been planned that she would patrol with Nkosazana today, and though it had been on her mind since she had awakened, she did not realize the sister of her mate may have already gotten up and arrived at their meeting point. So, rushed paws made their way hurriedly out of the center of the pride.
She wasn't surprised when she saw the familiar browns that usually indicated the form of her mate. But Nkosazana's coat was much lighter, almost as if she had been a child of hers and Uchanjaa's already. She kept that fleeting thought to herself, of course.
"Nkosazana! I must be late, I apologize!" she called a few seconds before she reached the other lioness's position.
"It seems to have been a while since we have been in each other's company, and yet... I can envision just yesterday to be one of the days we spent roaming to find our home. I hope you have been well," she said, "As does Uchanjaa."
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Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 2:13 pm
Nko heard the pattering of paws and turned to look. There she was! She smiled to greet her brother's mate. "Think nothing of it Kibetinyota. The Great Lion's eye is just setting now. We will be in good time." She wondered how the day would pan out. Would Kibe keep up? Would they encounter anything interesting during the patrol?
Nko was eager to find out. Her paws slowly started toward the now familiar trails that would lead the rusty lioness out toward the borders. Mention of her brother brought to mind that she should have stopped by and said hello before now. She would make a note to check on him.
"Indeed it does. I sometimes still wake and think we are still searching. When I realize it was only a dream and that I am home, I get a warm fuzzy feeling." She laughed softly. "I've been excellent. I had a chat with Queen Alcmene in fact. A very pleasurable lioness to talk with." Nko hoped that mentioning the queen's name would impress her brother's mate.
"Tell me. How have you and my brother settled in? Everything going well?"
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Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2011 8:34 pm
Kibetinyota calmed herself upon seeing the smiling face of her sister-in-law. Still, she felt guilt for her lack of punctuality, telling herself that she would have to somehow make it up to Nkosazana later.
She nodded to Nkosazana's first words as the tan lioness started heading out towards their patrol path. It would take a while for Kibetinyota to get used to this line of duty - when one had been trained for their entire cubhood to do one thing, and only dreamed of that until just recently, it was a stark contrast to the simple yet regulated trajectory of an active guard.
"I am heartened to hear that you have been excellent, Nkosazana," Kibetinyota said formally - her usual mode of speech, "But I hope that one day you still always wake up and know that we are home. And Queen Alcmene?"
Kibetinyota was a little surprised - she herself hadn't had much talk with the queen, other than when the group came to the Mwezi'Johari lands and she and Uchanjaa were prompted to hold a marriage ceremony. There were few instances, and it gave Kibetinyota a vague idea of how to judge the queen other than the events that led to her taking her father's place in leading the pride.
Kibetinyota was not one to gossip, either, being more unsociable than the normal lioness because she instead preferred to study and practice being a priestess when she was a cub. However, a tone in Nkosazana's voice told Kibetinyota that inquiring further could be rather enlightening.
"Uchanjaa and I have found a quaint den to rest in, yes, although I would be content with any den if Uchanjaa was there, honestly. No matter where we go, his fur always brings the same warmth and comfort," she smiled as she fondly thought of Uchanjaa, "And I believe I am getting quite used to patrolling, and hope to benefit the Mwezi'Johari in this new and different dream."
"I know I am no Queen Alcmene, but I hope you won't mind my presence while we patrol. Has she had anything to say to you?" she added.
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Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 1:16 pm
Nko moved where they could both travel side by side for easy conversation. Usually alone on these jaunts, she didn't have anyone to talk to unless she ran into someone on the border edge. She felt slightly awkward yet at the same time having a feeling of togetherness with her pridemate. The lioness considered going out on more of these dual patrols.
She flicked her tail and gave a slight shrug. "Yes, but I've found the males here leave something to be desired." Clearly Kibe, who had traveled great distances with Nko and the group would understand. Even if she was already paired off. What she really meant, was they were failing to fawn all over her.
A smile crossed her lips. Home. It was a good word. Every day she felt more right here.
"Oh yes. She stopped by one evening. We had a lovely chat. She welcomed me back home. Talked about this and that; she asked what rank I was considering. I told her guard of course. Very respectable position there. She said the head guard would be most happy to have me." Nko paused to purr happily.
"Your marriage ceremony was beautiful. Certainly worth it and the wait." She gave a smile. The lioness bet Kibe was glad to finally have it. "Ah, a good den should certainly be cozy." A chuckle escaped. "You'll have to consider when little ones start to join you." Hopefully they got one that was big enough.
"Mmmmm it would be warmer in a den with two wouldn't it? I do like my den single at the moment." That was all she was going to say about herself still being single. "That's excellent to hear Kibe! If you need any help or pointers on patrolling, feel free to ask me."
"Of course I don't mind. You're my brother's mate. We work reasonably well together, don't you think?" Nko paused to scan the area. They were getting close to the border now.
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Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 8:06 pm
Kibetinyota was unused to such chatter - the males in the Mwezi'Johari leaving something to be desired? Guards being a respectable position? Of course, Kibetinyota thought that all the positions in the pride were equally respectable. Everyone was there to fill a role, and, for herself, there were those born to fill a role. That role changed at times, like her situation, but everyone had an equal opportunity to contribute to the workings of the Great Lion.
She was afraid that, while she could keep up with Nkosazana's walking, she could not keep up with the talking. She had never had much to say herself, and she even spoke little to Uchanjaa at times. Her preference to quietly meditate and train for her role had always kept her rather silent in social situations.
"I am glad you enjoyed our marriage ceremony," she responded to one of the things that stood out most clearly to her, but flushed when Nkosazana brought up the thought of cubs.
"Ah, well Nkosazana... I'm sure you'll find a mate as warm as Uchanjaa before we think about having cubs..."
Nkosazana's other words floated past Kibetinyota's mind as something else brought itself to the front of her thoughts.
"One would think I would be very grateful for cubs, wouldn't you say? I mean, I was trained to be the pride's midwife... I would be around cubs all the time. Cubs are so beautiful, miraculous... And yet, I cannot see myself and Uchanjaa with them. Isn't that strange?"
She sighed, hoping her confession wouldn't bother Nkosazana so much. She normally would not have said anything, mostly keeping to herself, but she thought that since she was patrolling with her sister-in-law, she should at least trust in the bond between the two and perhaps open up to Nkosazana.
"I do admit that I find myself close to you, even though we haven't spoken much, even during our long journey," she expressed as the two neared the border.
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Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2011 1:07 pm
For a moment, the lioness wondered what her marriage ceremony would be like, if she ever had one. She shook her head in reply to Kibe.
"No. I'm not so sure. Not like I want to settle down right away anyhow, but it just seems to be missing something." Nko didn't want to admit that males had been showing remarkably little interest in her. It was something very dissappointing to the lioness.
Nko chuckled softly. "Wouldn't you say you trained to deal with others cubs? Not your own. I think you will be having them before you realize it." They had been lucky no other cubs, besides herself and her brother, had been born on the treck. So many could have been lost.
The rusty lioness was pleased to hear Kibe say they got along well. Maybe Kibe's social standing had changed, and now she wasn't as high as she could have been. In return that gave Nko someone she could trust and fall back on. A female friend, as brothers could only go so far.
"Hmmmm. I don't see anything interesting here Kibe. Shall we move on?" She left it open in case the other saw something interesting.
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Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 4:46 am
"Oh," Kibetinyota thought aloud in response to Nkosazana's both puzzling and teasing statements.
Perhaps some part of her felt like Nkosazana. Was she really already settled down with Uchanjaa? She loved him dearly, and they had been through pretty much everything with each other since she was a cub! But everything had been happening so fast... Alcmene's death... Dusana's betrayal... And her training as the midwife. Now wouldn't have been the right time to settle down, would it?
Much less have cubs with Uchanjaa. She felt herself flushing just thinking about it. She did suppose it was a standard... But she never imagined herself with cubs of her own, especially with Uchanjaa. But maybe deep in her heart, she truly desired that reality? Her ritualized composure allowed her to remain focused on her duties, but perhaps the only daughter, soft and gentle Kibetinyota wished for cubs with Uchanjaa.
"Well..."
It took Kiberinyota a long time to think about it. In the end, Nkosazana let the topic slide away when she asked to continue on their track. Ears straighted forward; she was embarrassed, feeling like she hadn't been as alert as she should have been during the trip, and her eyes quickly darted around the scene.
"I, ah..." she stalled, flushing even more with shame, "Are the only interesting things guards look for other lions?"
She was very, very new to this guard business, even though she had taken on solo rounds after being accepted into the faction. But perhaps she hadn't been doing it right those times, either...
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 12:28 pm
Nko was amused by her sister-in-law's hemming and hawing. It was like she wasn't prepared for cubs. Hadn't even thought about them. The lioness let it lie. Cubs would come in due time, she was sure. That's what happened with all pairs right?
"I guess, don't worry about it too hard."
She laughed, "oh no. There's lots of interesting things out here. Like leopards and cheetahs. Lesser species obviously. Then of course wild dogs, and hyenas. It doesn't hurt either to keep an eye out for prey too. So much stuff!"
Nko felt there was always something new to see. The land changed as much as the animals came and went.
"The land can tell you a lot. Has it rained recently. Did a herd come through. Where something died." Nko looked over at Kibe. She hoped the other lioness would pick up on this stuff quickly.
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Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 4:08 pm
Kibetinyota nodded in acknowledgment; she remembered well the varied species their group came upon when they wandered through the rogue lands for many days. It was very common to see more non-lions than lions, even. Perhaps part of that was because lions were more likely to be part of a pride already - something that she missed and yearned for deeply in those days. It was good to be home.
"I never was good at that, when we were travelling," she remarked, "Irja was better at knowing what to do when she saw signs of danger or resource. I suppose you have picked it up as well."
She smiled, admiring her sister-in-law, "I'd like it very much if you could teach me more when we are on duty together."
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Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 4:49 pm
"It's something you get a feel for with time. Keep trying and it'll come to you." Nko encouraged her sister-in-law. Some had an easier time with certain things than others.
"It would be a pleasure to teach anything you'd like to know." She had to smile. Nko realized she was having a better time than she'd thought she would.
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Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 7:39 pm
And with that, Kibetinyota found a mentor in Nkosazana. She was glad, and the mentor she was promised since birth could now be fulfilled. But with her growing bond and relationship with her sister-in-law, she could now perhaps find a place as a guard, and someone to teach her a new path.
It was her duty, after all, to perform all the Great Lion asked of her.
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