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 Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:15 pm
Tofauti had been sulking each and every day since Theluji's return to the pride. In Tofauti's mind the reason that his father had had to leave was purely because of Theluji's return to the pride, but in all honesty Tofauti wasn't even slightly sure as to why his father couldn't remain in the pride. Ultimately it was frustrating and irritating to the irrational young lion. Besides, since Theluji's return to the pride, Tofauti hadn't been able to spend as much time with his mother as he would've liked. That in and of itself was frustrating, and Gods only knew why Tofauti couldn't have a hobby like his siblings or cousin.
No, Tofauti preferred to remain in solitude for the most part, except when he sought out his paternal grandfather and spent time with the older lion. His paternal grandfather didn't mind when Tofauti needed to rant and rave and vent and feel sorry for himself. The older lion was one that Tofauti trusted, and Tofauti didn't trust many other pridemembers. In all honesty, only two lions came to mind -- his mother and his paternal grandfather.
On this day Tofauti was on his way to seek out his grandfather for advice on how to calm his frazzled nerves. Tofauti had never been an angry lion deep at heart and to feel this frustration and irritation unsettled Tofauti. His mother would be upset if she knew that his frustration was growing more and more upsetting, burning a hole deep in his chest.
Eyes to the ground, Tofauti skulked along, almost walking past the strange lion who lay crumpled beneath some underbrush. No, he smelled the unfamiliar scent before he caught sight of the lioness. He froze in his tracks as he sought out the motionless body of the stranger, almost camouflaged beneath the white blossoms that hung heavily off of a bush that formed the underbrush of the woods.
There was no movement. With a gulp, Tofauti crept closer, belly nearly flush with the ground. This was not a lion he recognized. Wait... this was not a lioness he recognized. She appeared to be utterly unconscious and Tofauti chewed on his lip before deciding what he should do. He was not far from his grandfather's den, and hastily he dashed toward the elderly lion's den.
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:21 pm
Zurvan cherished his time with the lions of the Intaba'umbikezeli. He had been blessed in watching his grandchildren grow older, in finding his son Spenta. He had thought for a moment that perhaps he would leave and seek out his other son, Angra, but as time passed that became less and less of a priority. No, he was needed here. The cubs of the pride looked up to him, needed his guidance as they grew older. Even his grandchildren still looked to him for advice -- most especially Tofauti. That one was a needy boy, always seeking assurance in this matter or that matter. There was an anger that pulsed deep beneath the skin of Tofauti. It was an anger that sometimes reminded Zurvan of himself -- and more importantly, reminded Zurvan of Angra. Despite having not met his younger son as of yet, the stories he'd heard from Bagrat and Kizuka... well, perhaps the wing marking on Tofauti's back held more meaning than any of them realized.
Resting outside of his den, Zurvan dozed beneath the midday sun. Life could get no better.
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:24 pm
"Grandfather!" Tofauti skidded to a halt a short distance from Zurvan's den and called out again. "Grandfather! Come quick!!" He paced in slight irritation as he watched his grandfather creak to his feet slowly, a worrisome look on his face. "Grandfather, you must come quick," Tofauti called out again, an intense look on his face.
"I've found a stranger... in some brush. I don't... I can't tell if she's alive or not, but we've got to get back to her and quickly!"
He didn't wait for an answer before turning away and dashing away, back to the lioness in the underbrush. Thank the Gods his grandfather didn't live far from where Tofauti had found the lioness.
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:27 pm
Of course Zurvan had spoke too soon. His joints ached with age and yet he hastened after his grandson. Tofauti usually did not worry himself with the issues of others -- his priorities were usually Kizuka's welfare and then his own, and in that order. Tofauti was his mother's most loyal subject -- perhaps even her most loyal son -- and to see the blue-maned youth so distraught over the well-being of a stranger made Zurvan worry.
It took him a few moments to catch up to where Tofauti paced, his pale pink eyes glued on the lioness that huddled motionless in the underbrush before them.
"I do not know this lioness."
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:31 pm
"I do not know this lioness."
Blearily Shujaa opened her eyes, grimacing in pain when the bright light of the sun struck her pale gaze. She froze -- no, she assuredly did not recognize the voices that rang in her ears. A cultured, deep voice and one definitely younger, and worried.
"Is she alive?"
Shujaa wasn't sure where she was, or who these lions were. Did they mean her harm? Had they brought her here? What did they want with her. Shujaa deemed it necessary to give pause, making sure to keep her breathing steady and remaining as motionless as possible.
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:33 pm
"Is she alive?"
That was foremost in Tofauti's mind. He wasn't sure why he was even concerning himself with this lioness -- it was almost a feeling of responsibility. If he was being honest with himself, Tofauti hadn't felt responsible for anyone other than himself and his mother in his entire life. It was a new and frightening feeling, one that he wasn't entirely comfortable with.
She was a beautiful lioness, pale white like his mother but with stark pink markings around her eyes and a lovely shock of hair. Deep gray on her legs, but heart markings -- like his mother had.
A perverse notion came to mind -- perhaps she'd been brought here by the Gods -- a gift for Tofauti.
Nonsense.
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:35 pm
Zurvan dipped his nose and shoved against the lioness's shoulder. Only then did her eyes open, revealing lovely pink eyes -- almost the exact shade of Tofauti's.
"She is awake." He watched her carefully, leaning back in case she struck out at him. "Who are you, child?" Zurvan did not want to come off as being too aggressive. It would only serve to frighten the female, and that was not what Zurvan wanted.
Tofauti moved forward but Zurvan shot out a paw, pressing it against his grandson's chest.
"Give her a moment."
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:39 pm
Shujaa cleared her throat as she opened her eyes to gaze at the darker lion before settling her eyes on the eager, blue-maned male.
"I am Shujaa," she said haltingly, tongue swollen with thirst.
"I am Shujaa," she repeated, "And I have no idea how I got here or what I was doing prior to this very moment in time." Her voice was soft and tinged with fright and she blinked slowly as she tried to rationalize this surreal moment.
It was terrifying, to say the very least.
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:41 pm
Tofauti felt silly, but he was becoming more and more convinced that she was a gift to him from the Gods. He only hoped his mother felt the same way that he did, because only with her approval would he tout such a claim.
He offered her a halting smile, his gaze unsure but his posture that of a gentleman -- it was obvious that he meant the lioness no harm.
"I am Tofauti'nafsi," he whispered, dipping his head in greeting. "This is my grandfather, Zurvan. You are well within the boundaries of the Intaba'umbikezeli pride, but we mean you no harm. It is just... strange that you would find yourself here without knowing how you got here. We are a rather... secluded pride, high in the mountains." His eyebrows drew together in a small frown as he peered fretfully at her.
"Can you move?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:44 pm
Zurvan remained silent, watching his grandson with an expression much akin to amazement. In all of the young lion's life, Tofauti had never willingly divulged much information about himself to strangers. This was a strange moment, one that Kizuka would hear about from Zurvan's own mouth.
It was slightly unsettling how gently Tofauti spoke to the female, how tenderly he posed his questions and how freely he gave personal information about both himself and his pride.
"If you can rise," Zurvan offered gently, "we will escort you back to the healers so that you might be checked over. We have fresh spring water and plenty of food with which to fill your belly."
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:46 pm
Shujaa watched the pair for a long moment. They were both quite gentle of speech and of gesture, and she could discern no threat from either of them. In fact, the younger male almost seemed ... possessive. And even stranger, it was almost comforting to Shujaa.
With effort the pale lioness rose to her feet, grunting as she did so. Within the blink of an eye the young lion -- Tofauti, she corrected herself mentally -- was by her side, bracing her as she roughly rose to her feet.
"Steady enough, I suppose," she mumbled wryly, a flustered smile on her face.
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:48 pm
Zurvan moved as quickly as his joints would allow him, bracing the other side of the vulnerable lioness. This was turning stranger and stranger -- Tofauti was not a selfish lion by any means -- he loved his siblings and his mother, and even his father and grandfather. Never had Zurvan seen the youth so protective of someone that was not family -- someone who was a stranger, an interloper, at that.
"It isn't far," he assured the female, smiling softly. With luck on their side, they would be nearing the temples in no time at all.
What a strange day.
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:50 pm
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