|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 6:23 pm
 Jabari watched silently as Iaeratu raced away, wondering if Kafele wanted to speak to him. It felt like he did. The white lion sat down, licking his still sore paw and waiting for the heir to speak. His plan to hook the two up had failed. She was beautiful, wasn't she? He shoved that random thought to the back of his mind. "Be careful," he said quietly, "of what you say next. There's always the chance that we aren't alone."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 6:38 pm
 Kafele started walking in silence, knowing full well his Ligi friend would follow even though he had just sat down. He took Jabari’s words very seriously so it was only when he reached a small clearing where they’d be able to see anyone approaching without much fear of being overheard that the Atmaja Lord spoke again. Still… even the birds had ears.
“I don’t think I’ll say anything … worthy of mentioning. I apologize for sending your friend away so quickly.” He paused, sitting down. “Let’s leave our rematch for another day. I want to talk to you about something else.” He watched Jabari carefully wondering if he already suspected what Kafele wanted to say, still somewhat wary of discussing things with someone he was only seeing for the second time in his life. His connection with Kayin was too strong to ignore though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 7:02 pm
 "I'm willing to discuss it... if you don't mind me going that direction for a bit," Jabari said, nodding towards the pride. He smelled something. Something that shouldn't be so close. He started off, barely limping as he sniffed the air. "Too young," he whispered, irritated with the whole situation as he caught sight of the cub looking around curiously. "And too far away from the pride. He's just asking to be killed. Kaseko was exploring! His father had gotten distracted with talking to some other lion, and this was his chance! He trotted clumsily, his head up, shoulders back as if he owned the entire world. He was plenty big enough to go exploring!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 7:30 pm
“Sure.” Kafele agreed as he followed after Jabari. “It’s about… what is it?”
He watched as the Ligi sniffed the air and walked with a purpose though it took a while before the red lion understood it. A cub. Tsk. Here he was worried about one cub that might be at risk and here comes another, each step taking the tiny thing (boy, he really was small…) closer to the Weeping Lion and a never-ending supply of Ligi who would murder him without a second thought. Jabari seemed to feel the same way.
“A kid...” The cub’s parents should seriously be more careful with such a small cub. The pale boy was completely unprotected. “Oi, kid! Come here.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:08 pm
Kaseko turned, then, shockingly, burst into a bright smile. "Yay!!" he said. "Someone to play with!! Catch me if you cannn!!" he said, speeding up his stumbling trot, trying to race away.
Jabari muttered something dark and hit it, racing down the path in a blur of white and pulling to a stop blocking the cub's way. "Just. Where. Do. You. Think YOU'RE GOING?" he roared in the cub's face, his teeth but bare seconds from fur.
Kaseko sat down, his eyes widening at the roar. Then, shockingly, he started to giggle. "Again!! Again!!" he said, clapping his paws happily.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:16 pm
“W-what? Hey, stop!” Kafele groaned when the cub appeared to be taking them as playmates and broke into a light run.
“Jabari!” Okay sure, the kid probably needed a scare but it was still hard to see a full grown lion roaring in the face of tiny cub. Of course, this had nothing to do with the fact that Kafele had gone through a similar experience as a cub… not at all. Right. “You! Stop laughing! Do you know how dangerous it is to be out on your own? Where are your parents?” he eyed the fearless cub, curiously. He was obviously too young to understand how dangerous his own pride was.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:20 pm
"I like you!" Kaseko crowed, clambering to his feet and rubbing against Jabari happily. Jabari was so stunned by the kid that he sat down thoughtlessly, looking like a complete idiot as a result.
When Kaseko heard Kafele talking he turned, looking at the red lion curiously. "Daddy's busy," he said. "So I explore!"
"He's crazy. This has got to be Kasim's kid," Jabari said. "We can't let him get anywhere near the Jaw." And he watched, blankly, as the kid looked up at him.
"I'm hungry! Feed me!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:31 pm
Kafele tried not to laugh at Jabari’s expression when the cub started rubbing himslef on the white Ligi but the situation was a little too complicated for humor. It would probably seem funnier later, when the little guy was safe in his den but, right now, Kafele was more worried than amused.
“We’ll give something – a hare maybe! - if you stay still for a bit and answer a few questions, okay?” Kafele said with a smile, hoping the cub was hungry enough to be bribed. It would easy for Jabari to fetch something from the Weeping Lion with the excuse that Kafele had requested it so hopefully the cub would take the deal. “So… what’s your name and your father’s name? Didn’t he leave you with anyone?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:34 pm
"I'm the baby!" Kaseko said proudly. "And Daddy!"
"That's not his name," Jabari said as the cub rolled over onto his back, batting at him.
"Uh huh. Daddy's name is Daddy!"
"No it isn't. You don't name people Daddy, cub. And why don't we take him with us to go hunting?" Jabari asked, his ears twitching as he heard voices in the distance. "Like, now?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:45 pm
“What do other lions call your father? Do you know?” Kafele sighed, looking mildly exasperated. “And the excuse? We really shouldn’t be seen hunting…” Kafele told Jabari, his worry increasing at the sound of strange voices. Damn, the cub didn’t even know his name… or his father’s.
“Let’s go see the gazelles, little guy!” Kafele said abruptly and grabbed the cub by the scruff before he started walking. “Lead the way.” Belatedly, he wondered if perhaps they shouldn’t just see who it was first before running off like that (or, more accurately, see if they couldn’t dump the cub on a passing hunter).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:48 pm
"Hunting... let's not call it hunting," Jabari said. "Let's call it a friendly competition. Everyone's already seen us racing. Now we're taking it to other things." Besides, he thought, that was a Ligi's voice behind them. "C'mon, let's get out of here. I know that voice," he added lowly.
Kaseko hung happily, kicking his back legs so he swung in the older lion's hold. "Weeee!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:55 pm
“Shhhhhhh!” Kafele tried to hush the cub, leaning his head forward instinctively when the pale boy started kicking. Seriously, this kid better grow some sense in the future. Kafele had three siblings but none of them had been like this. No, definitely not.
“Alright… competition.” His words were muffled but not too difficult to understand. “I’ll follow you… it’s been a while since I’ve actually been to a hunting ground. Kid, stop kicking!”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:58 pm
"It's this way," Jabari said, heading to the right at a decent trot. They couldn't keep the kid long, the father would know he was gone and start to panic. That was the last thing they needed to do.
"I gotta go," Kaseko said abruptly. "I gotta gooooo!"
"Man is he annoying!" Jabari complained. "Where do you have to go?" he demanded, turning so he was looking the kid in the eyes. A squirt hit him in the face, in response.
"I went!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:05 pm
Oh, yes. This was one for the records. This time Kafele did snort and it didn’t progress to a full-blown laugh only because his neck suddenly felt a bit… wet. Oh no, he didn’t!
“Damn, kid, that is so rude!” Kafele said between his teeth, wrinkling his nose. He whined looking at the white Ligi with very displeased expression, glancing over his shoulder to see if they were being followed. “Jabari, are we close?”
They had to be. They really had to be.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:08 pm
"Right where we need to be," Jabari said through gritted teeth as he saw a lioness heading their way. "Put him down and let's run as fast as we can."
"Wha--what??" Kaseko asked. "You're leaving me??"
"With the pretty ladies kid, you should thank us," Jabari said.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
