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 Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 9:19 pm
 PEACE. For a moment she had PEACE! No lessons to teach, the cubs were off with the Yana'hine, and Verge and Te hadn't called on her. So Hakuna was making the most of it and just laying in the grass on her back, enjoying the pale light of the moon and stars. She was becoming increasingly appreciative of the calm moments nowadays. Especially with Junior. Sparda...
Hakuna'msiba, her little Junior, was almost like Ellie all over again. All cheer and smiles and light in the darkness. It was painful some days. It had been especially painful the evening, when they'd all first woken up. Because for a moment, despite how different the two looked, Hakuna had seen Ellie instead of Junior.
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Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 9:31 pm
 Marinette stretched and and pounced another random moving blade of grass. She was bored. She wasn't sure where she was supposed to be right now, and didn't really care. There was too much movement to stalk, too much to DO. Roth was who knew where, and didn't give a crap about her anyway. Crue was trying to blend in. She wasn't allowed to bother Sixx too much, because Roth got pissy about it. And of course, her sisters were mean.
She looked about for something else to do. The teacher wasn't too bad, but she'd only seen her once, and Roth had warned Marinette that if she irritated anyone that they bothered him, he was going to do something mean to her. Probably knock her around again. She was really getting tired of being knocked around for being herself. Her father was such a jerk. She missed her mother. Clermeilli-Pie had been such a stable, sensible lioness. When Marinette got to be too hyper, Clermeilli-Pie didn't shove her around or hit her. She just would say to stop, explain her reasons, and if that did not work a gentle but firm paw would hold the cub in place.
Marinette saw another red bit of fur sticking up out of the grass and started to stalk it. Probably not the smartest idea in a pride full of 'demons' but she was bored. Creeping along as quietly as can be, Marinette stalks through the grass toward the oblivious teacher. Without even taking the time to identify whom it is, the cub pounces and lands right on top of the adult's tail. She picks it up in her mouth, ever so gently and holds it there proudly. It was her catch afterall.
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Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 1:07 am
Hakuna'jina had heard the grass rustle, had heard the paw pads. She hadn't, however, expected the little one to go for her tail. Genuinely surprise, Hakuna started some and lifted her head so she could see the cub over her chest and belly, a brow raised. Hmmm...a cub she barely recognized. Likely one of the new ones, who was still with the Yana'hine more often than not.
"What are you doing away from the Yana'hine, little one?" There was no annoyance in her voice, simply curiosity. Hakuna well knew that demon cubs were likely to go off on their own, sneaking away from the Yana'hine to explore the pridal lands. "You're rather lucky it was my tail you pounced and not...say...Tavar'urya's. Or the Morifaer Aran'shale."
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Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 8:57 am
Marinette gently puts the tail down and holds it still with a paw. She purrs at the lioness, a rather proud look on her face. "I was bored." Her answer was simple and accompanied by a playful smile. "The other adults do not want to play. Sixx would play but I am not allowed to spend time with him." She gives the cutest little pout and sighs. Of all her siblings, Sixx was the only one that really seemed to like her these days and he was off limits. Marinette pads up beside the lioness and puts her front paws on the upturned belly.
She licks the lioness' nose and gives a little excited bounce. "You are not mad at me, does that mean you will play? I need a playmate, it is hard to practice hunting or fighting on my own... and everybody complains I am too happy, and bouncy." Her eyes twinkle and she is barely keeping from bouncing more in place as she talks. The teacher seemed SO nice. What had Roth been so worried about?
"Besides, my daddy's a jerkface and took me away from momma, but HE refuses to play." Even that statement did not hold much bitterness really. She missed their "Uncle" Daire and her mother though. Those two adults not only played with the cubs, but encouraged them to play certain games to build skills. She really missed her mother and hoped she did not get told on by this adult to her father for calling him a jerkface.
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Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 3:21 pm
Hakuna sighed. Of course most of the adults didn't want to play. And it wouldn't be the first time a cub went exploring out of boredom. She didn't tense when the cub put her paws on her belly...she'd had four litters, she was used to it by now. The nose-lick and cheerfulness, however, was a bit offsetting. "No, I am not mad. And...I know a cub like you. And there was another like the two of you. But she's no longer in the pride."
No...Ellie was dead. Killed by someone in the Mwako. She raised a brow at the cub again. Ah...so she was one of those fathered outside and brought in. Hm. "Do you know which side of the pride he belongs to? Morifaer or Sparda?"
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Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 3:56 pm
Marinette shakes her head. "I know his name. My father is Roth... and he said his place in the pride was... In-cu-b-us." She still had to sound out some of the bigger words to make sure she did not mispronounce them. She perks up her ears at the mention of another cub like her. Did that mean maybe she'd have a friend? That would be nice. "The other one died, didn't she? I heard the only way out is to die." She wasn't sure if they told her that just to scare her or not. She would rather not find out just in case they were telling the truth.
"Daddy is always talking about getting more of us..." She did not understand everything in the pride, but she had gathered that her father thought having lots of cubs was important. She also knew it had something to do with his rank. Other than that, she did not know much. Roth didn't stick around to tell her anything, the babysitters had too many cubs more suitable to pay attention to. Mari was not anyone's favorite cub to have around in this sourpuss demon pride. "When he is around at all."
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Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 1:22 pm
Roth? Oh. Hakuna frowned. She knew who Roth was, though she'd never talked with the lion herself. Ri had brought him into the pride, if she remembered correctly. "It's not the only way out, for some...but in her case it was. There are those who do not like us demons. And she was killed by them." She listened to the little cub, and nodded. Then reached out and ruffled the cub's head tuft with a paw. "Some demons do that...make lots of cubs to bring into the pride. A small few of us are loyal to only one or two others, to make cubs with."
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Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 4:07 pm
Marinette purred at Hakuna and licked the paw that ruffled her fur. "I am sorry she died... she meant a lot to you?" The way Hakuna had mentioned the dead lioness made her wonder if it was a friend or relative. And being naturally inquisitive, she had to ask. "My momma didn't have anyone to make cubs with. She does not like Roth, but she loved us cubs! Momma was smart, she said that in a pride you should find something you enjoy and do your best in that... but I don't think this pride is as nice as the ones she thought of." The cub looked quite sad at that. She missed her other brother and sister, her mother, and her 'uncle' Daire.
She didn't like Roth, or her siblings here. Even Crue wasn't that nice. Her mind turned over some things for a few moments and then she looked up at Hakuna as a 'crazy' little idea occurred to her. "You are really nice. Can you be my momma now?" She did her best to look as cute and lovable as possible, purring and nuzzling Hakuna's cheek. She might have just come up with the idea spur of the moment but once she decided she wanted it, Marinette was determined to get it. She wanted Hakuna as her mother now and she was determined to make the lioness agree.
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Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 7:14 pm
Hakuna nodded, keeping her sadness from leaking out too much. She wouldn't suffer the pride her weaknesses. "Lith'elen was my daughter. The second one I ever had." She smiled slightly at Marinette. "Well...your mother sounded like a smart lioness for someone from outside. This pride might surprise you in the sort of things one can do. I used to be a Tirma'eth, before I decided I loved teaching others enough to become a Sinta'hare."
The cub's second question caught her off guard. She's always just been a mother...she'd certainly never had someone ASK her to be their mother! It was...strange. And surprising. She was silent as she thought. "I could certainly keep an eye on you. Since your father isn't. You must tell me your name, though. Mine is Hakuna'jina."
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Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 3:50 pm
Marinette's eyes were sad as she listened to Hakuna tell about a lost daughter. She was glad her mother knew she was still alive even if she had to leave her. "I am sorry about Lith'elen... and Momma is very smart, even Roth admits to that." She gave a very firm nod at this. The cub's eyes lit up when Hakuna agreed to 'keep an eye on her.' It was good enough for her! "I am Marinette!" She put her front paws back up on the lioness' chest and purred in her face happily.
A new mother might not be the same as having her old one back, but at least it was better than only having Roth around. And it was definitely better than dealing with the baby sisters all the time. "Momma Hakuna, do you have any other cubs my age? Roth's other cubs aren't much fun to play with... maybe my siblings with you will be better?" She really hoped that was true with at least one or two of them or she was going to be a very lonely cub.
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Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 11:44 am
It wasn't often Hakuna heard another pride member outside her own family say something about Ellie. Hakuna chuckled. "Thank you, but you've nothing to apologize for. It's been quite a few seasons. And that is quite a feat!" Marinette...an odd name, but it seemed to fit the little one well.
"I do have a few cubs your age. One of them is even as cheerful as you. Her name is Hakuna'msiba...but we call her 'Junior'." For various reasons. "There's seven cubs in all in my den...aside from you." Now there would be eight.
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Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 2:13 am
Mari nuzzled the lioness' cheek. "But it still it makes you sad." To the cub this made it important to apologize for the lioness' pain. It might not be her fault, but at least knowing someone cared helped. Or so she'd thought. Not very demon like of her, but oh well. She was still getting the hang of the whole demon thing.
Mari giggled and stretched out her paws to touch the lioness' nose. It was one of those cute gestures that hadn't been beaten out of her yet. "Yes, but momma was light blue, so she couldn't come here with us.... she and two of my siblings stayed among the trees and pretty flowers." She could not have found her way back there if her life depended on it, but she would remember the colors for a long time.
The specific images on the other hand didn't stay with the cub. "Junior? She is cheerful? Oooo! She sounds like fun!!!" She stood on her hind legs for a moment pawing at the air and tumbled backward in her excitement. "I am hard to keep in a den..." She giggled and stood up, shaking herself off.
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Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 2:01 pm
It did help, a little. Hakuna had long passed the stage in her life where she needed no one. Knowing another cared, in their own way, was a comfort to her now. Yes, she was a demon...but she was not the foolish one she'd been in her youth.
"It sounds like your mother was very smart to stay where she was. Such a blue would have marked her badly here." She shifted and got to her paws, smiling slightly. "Well...I'll only try to keep you in a den when it's time to sleep for the day. Come...why I don't I show you where the den is?"
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