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 Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 12:08 pm
 Karroo finally got her mother's permission to wander alone away from the general area of the family's home territory. After the tendency to wander without any warning when she was a cub, this came as a bit of a surprise. Her mother's only stipulation to her wandering was that she wore a small pouch of herbs around her neck at all times, a simple request and one that Karroo complied with. So now she was several miles from home studding the plants that would not grow closer to the hot springs she called home.
The young green cub had stopped to study a particularly interesting plant. It was a very non-descriptive and uninteresting looking but she knew that if you knew what you were doing the plant could be very beneficial. But there is a fine line between healing and poisoning, it was one of her mother's favorite phrases and that described this plant perfectly. The pale, dull leaves were quite poisonous but the roots, when ground and mixed with other plants and items, was a potent painkiller. It was stuff like this that Val taught her daughter but even though Karroo listened didn't mean she wanted it to be her life's work, but still...
With a disinterested look on her face she gently poked at it with her paw. It swayed slightly under her paw and let off a slightly green smell, like crushed grass. Curious now she cautiously bent to sniff the plant, nothing in her lessons said the smell of the plant was deadly.
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Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 1:05 pm
 Mana had set out in the early morning to continue her attempts at gathering various herb for remedies, that was if she could recognize them. It was rather difficult to pick something if you didn't know what you were looking for. A low growl of frustration rumbled in the pale lioness' throat. It was just becoming frustrating that despite her efforts, it seemed to all be for naught.
She was far too preoccupied with her own self-loathing to even comprehend what direction she was journeying in or even what time of day it was. That was until she caught sight of a some small and a darker green than the rest of the surrounding shrubs. "What in the..." Bright blue eyes narrowed as Mana attempted to see despite the distance what it was. Finally her eyes focused enough to let her see that it was indeed a cub and that it was standing next to one of the few plants she actually recognized. It always seemed to be the dangerous ones she remembered the most.
Nearly tripping over herself, Mana turned and threw herself into a run. "Hey! You shouldn't mess with that!" She called as she closed the distance between the two, breathing heavily by the time she stopped a few feet away from the cub, again almost tripping and falling though she managed to keep herself on her feet as she slowed. "Th..that one's dangerous. You should..shouldn't play with it."
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Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 1:19 pm
Karroo looked up in surprise when a voice called out. A quick look around showed a pale lioness rushing towards her and no one else around who she could have meant. With narrowed eyes Karroo kept quite as the adult got closer and closer. When the older female stumbled to a stop a few feet away from her Karroo nearly snickered but was able to hold it back at least until what the pale lioness said permeated her surprised mind.
Giggling Karroo nearly fell over. She had yet to meet an adult who wanted to warn her about a plant, other then her mother, even her father trusted her enough to know what she was doing. Granted she didn't get to meet too many adults. Getting her giggles in check were harder then she thought but Karroo did, after a moment or two. "I," She snickered softly, "I know." Another giggle escaped, "I've been learning since I was able to walk." Finally her laughter subsided and with a smile she studied the adult with the clear blue gaze she got from her father.
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Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 1:31 pm
Mana couldn't help but let herself blink a few times while she caught her breath as the cub just stood there and laughed at her. Well, giggle but it seemed to be close enough. A frown spread on her face as the giggling continued at least until the younger lioness finally explained that she was already aware of the plant's harmless effects. It was little surprising that someone so young would already know about it. If she already knew about that did she know about more? "You..already knew that? Studying? You have a teacher?" She had questions already and she had just met the young lion.
"Ah, how rude of me! I'm Mana. My apologies for just rushing at you like that. I just couldn't do nothing." She tipped her head downward, looking back with sky blue eyes and a returning the smile with one akin. Mana shifted slightly on her paws, looking under herself just in case of thorns, snakes or anything of that like, before laying herself down so the two could be almost at eye level.
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Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 1:52 pm
Karroo was a bit surprised and answered without really thinking, "Well yeah. She teaches me when she can get me to sit still." She knew that it was unusual for a youngster like herself to know about plants but the pale lioness' question seemed to be a bit more focused and had a purpose behind them other then making sure Karroo knew what she was doing.
Nodding Karroo introduced herself as well, "I'm Karroo and its fine Mana. I guess I would have the same reaction if I saw a youngster dealing with such a plant." She turned and looked at the plant in question. "I think Momma said that is what she has done on quite a few occasions herself. Although I can't be sure, I kinda tuned her out at the time." With a embarrassed grin the green cub looked back at Mana, who had laid down so they were almost at eye level. "So, well, thank you for, well, trying to help me. That is if I didn't know what I was doing of course."
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Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 2:14 pm
Mana nodded with a bit of embarassment for jumping to action but the smile still staying in place. "It was nothing Karroo." She turned to glance at the plant that had caused all of this mess, possibly a good mess though. "I am glad that you are knowledgeable. I was nowhere near as well taught as you are now when I was a cub." In fact that was partially why she was so interested in them to begin with.
"You mentioned your mother, is she your mentor? It must be wonderful to have your own mother be able to teach you." Her paws drug along the ground idly as the lioness' mind wandered in thought. "Would you happen to know if she would be willing to possibly take another student, Karroo? You seem nice and I would very much like to be able to spend more time with you."
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Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 11:49 pm
Karroo shifted her weight from paw to paw in a outward sign of uncertainty as well as embarrassment. "Yeah well I have a good teacher." The young cub absolutely hated admitting who her mother was unless directly asked because she found that most looked and treated Karroo differently as soon as they found out that her mom was a goddess.
"Yeah my mom has taught me everything I know. Its pretty cool but sometimes its annoying. I guess that's pretty normal though." Karroo shrugged trying to seem unconcerned although her heart was pounding. To her the next logical step would be asking what Karroo's mom's name was and how she knew so much. And since Karroo was taught not to lie the green cub was expecting Mana's treatment of Karroo to change soon. When the expected question was not asked the cub could only blink in surprise.
"Well, um, mom always likes teaching others and sharing tips with peers so I don't think she would mind." She smiled, knowing her mother Mana would be welcomed as a student with open paws. With Mana's second sentence Karroo could only look away in embarrassment. What did one say to such a statement, "Um, well you seem pretty nice too Mana. I wouldn't think many would bother to step in like you did."
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Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 6:37 pm
Again the light colored lioness nodded, her mouth curling upward in a sort of smile. Well this was a fine streak of luck! Even with her entrance making her look like a fool the day was turning out fine now. She had found a potential teacher as well as maybe a new friend. Wonderful! "I'd love to meet your mother if you'd have me, Karroo. She seems to be very wise and a wonderful mentor and mother from how you speak about her even though it may seem a little annoying. You have an opportunity that not a lot of others have." She pushed herself up into a sitting position instead of laying flat on the ground. Mana's blue eyes trailed to the plant once again before coming back to Karroo. "I'm envious actually. I wish I knew half of what you probably do."
She shook her head several times but still kept that smile on her face. "Enough of that, I must seem so selfish. You are well taught for your age and I can only imagine how much you will know as you grow. It will be astonishing, I'm sure. You seem to be a very smart young lioness and with your mother as your teacher, you're bound to go far."
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Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 2:03 pm
Karroo smiled shyly. "I don't mind. I think mom will like to meet you." She nodded in agreement. There were few who had the learning she was getting and even less who have had the opportunities she has. How many can say they have gone flying and really meant it? Granted it was not often, or very high, or for long distances, and as she got older they stopped since the danger was greater but she did go on flights with her mom. "Oh don't worry about that. I'm sure that soon you will know more then I do." She glanced at the sun and stood up. "Well if we are going to get back before my mom starts to worry we should probably go."
After taking a few steps towards home Karroo paused and looked at Mana. "Thank you Mana. I still have a lot to learn but I'm on my way. And we should be on our way too." She laughed softly and turned back towards home and waited for Mana to join her.
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Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 2:37 pm
Of course she was curious where the two were going but that would ruin the mystery of it! Oh she couldn’t wait to meet the one behind the young lioness’ knowledge but she would have to, not knowing how long it would take to reach the green cub’s home, but from the sound of it, her mother was the kind to worry after dark so surely they weren’t ‘too’ far away. Regardless the events had gone from embarrassing to wonderful in little to no time at all. How exciting!
Mana nodded, glancing to the already lowering African sun. She pulled herself up onto her feet and with a pep in her step, she trailed behind Karroo, ready to set off, hoping to make a good first impression to what she hoped would be her teacher. “I’m glad then. I’d very much like to meet her.”
FIN
[WC: 1,940-1,952 words depending on the word counter]
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