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 Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 9:19 pm
 Mantsa was resting in the lower branches of a tree, content to laze the day away until night fell, when it would be time to hunt. He was at a good place in his life, about to take his long time love, Sunhe, as his permanent mate, looking forward to becoming a father not long after, and was fairly certain life was going to be pretty good from here on out.
He sat up when he saw a lioness come wandering past him, apparently following the course of the stream that flowed through on its way to the larger river. It was odd to see a lioness around these parts; this area was mainly leopards, although not in any official capacity like a lion pride. He wondered what brought her to the area.
Mantsa stood, stretched, and hopped nimbly down from the tree, and started padding toward the brown, gold, and white lioness.
"Hello, miss, are you lost? Do you need any help?"
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Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 1:12 am
It wasn't exactly that Njalo had a short attention span.
It was only that she often forgot the things she was expected to pay attention to.
With a world full of interesting things how could anyone expect the lovely young huntress to focus on just one?
Not that such things ever evolved into conscious thoughts for Nja, she simply followed each lead into the next. All too happy and completely open to whatever experiences chanced her way, the sleek lioness had been happily jogging along the edge of the thin waterway. Following a boat-shaped leaf as it twirled and rocked in the tiny rapids. She imagined that the cubs back home would have enjoyed such a silly thing--neglecting to take into account that the Ithambo had little to no moving water. And it was for that reason alone that she chased the leaf, hoping to catch it once it weaved close enough to swat at.
Unfortunately, it seemed the cubs of the bonelands would have to go without the makeshift toy when a leopard wearing a pelt of an absolutely eye catching shade of blue caused Njalo to stop dead in her tracks. Awed by his astuteness. Nja is lost! How did you know?! Are you magic?
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Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 8:52 pm
Mantsa was a bit puzzled. He had just asked a question, not made a declarative statement.
"No, I just noticed I had never seen you before and you didn't really seem to know where you were going. I thought you might need some help. We get very few lions around here."
The lioness was quite pretty, as far as lionesses went, and Mantsa wanted to know how she had come here. The nearest pride was rather a long way away.
"Have you been walking long? Do you need a rest, or any food?"
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Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 11:58 pm
Whether it was an observation or a state of curiosity seemed to make no relative difference to Njalo, she remained easily impressed. A glowing smile presenting the umzengeli as no obvious threat and truthfully, unless hunting or protecting other members of her pride the nimble lioness was as docile as a kitten. Nja was following that leaf.
She corrected gently upon the mention of not knowing where she was going. Turning to point her paw towards the stream only to find that her quarry had long since fled, causing her to add with a sheepish giggle. But it got away..
Settling down on her haunches a thoughtful glance from brilliant golden eyes took in her unfamiliar surroundings as if noticing them for the first time. Nja... Njalo doesn't know. Nja was following the leaf and this place.. Nja doesn't know where this place is.
Looks like it would be another night spent away from home for Njalo. The Umama was bound to be displeased with her when she finally found her way home. For now though, that thought didn't even strike the dusk colored female. Rest and food sounded like a real treat, causing the curious stray to question happily. You have food?
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Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 10:11 pm
"Sure, we can give you a meal. I have an antelope stored away. And I can probably at least point you in the right direction to go home. I wouldn't want you to stay lost. Follow me."
The lioness was a bit baffling for Mantsa, but he wanted to help her. Mantsa was always a gentleman, and always ready to help a lady in distress. He sprung up a tree not far from the tree he had been resting in, and dropped the antelope carcass onto the ground. He would be able to catch another tonight.
"Dig in, please. There are plenty more antelopes around."
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 2:53 am
We? The plural pronoun caught Njalo off guard as her head swiveled with curiosity in hopes to catch a glimpse of the "others" her companion had--possibly off handedly--hinted toward. After a few unsuccessful moments of scanning their surroundings the lioness finally gave in. Just in time too, considering her guide was quickly getting away from her.
Picking up a brief lope to catch up with the hospitable leopard, a giggle trickled behind him at the thought of how strange it was to be on the other paw for once. Normally it was the huntress who was providing the awaiting members of her pride with fresh meat. Eyes widening with surprise when the remains were dropped for her to consume. Knowing relatively little about the smaller species of feline or their habits of keeping their meals save up in the trees and out of the line of view of other predators a gaze of wide-eyed wonder lifted to the leopard above her. Food grows on trees here?! You really are magic!
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 10:39 am
Mantsa laughed. "The antelope didn't grow on the tree, I just stored it there to eat later and keep it away from scavengers. It's also handy to store leftovers that way."
Mantsa gnawed delicately on a leg bone. He would have to hunt again now, and didn't want to be weighted down with a full stomach, but the smell of fresh meat still made him hungry.
"Can you tell me about where you came from so I can help you get back?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 2:00 pm
Keeping a carcass out of the reach of scavengers by hanging it on a branch. Now there was an interesting idea, though so very unlike the way the lions of the Ithambo lived. More often than not there were no remains to be stored once the entire pride had finished with any meal Njalo'sasa brought home. Likewise, the smooth pelted lioness had never been much good at scaling trees, finding her paws best attributed to solid land and occasionally water. Two out of three wasn't anything to scoff at!
Trying to imagine Matifu's lumbering figure hefting up the trunk of a tree made the young female giggle, crinkling her nose. Nja thinks it's a good idea, but climbing trees is hard!
Finally, as the aroma of congealing blood finally reached her, a hesitant gaze dropped to the generous offering. A belly, tight with hunger, gurgled loudly and without realizing it Nja was dragging her tongue over the clean white fur of her maw. Lifting a hopeful expression to her new acquaintance. Nja.. can really have this?
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Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 10:21 am
"I think you would have an easier time of it if you were a leopard. We are made for climbing trees, just as cheetahs are made for speed. Cheetahs are really bad at tree climbing, even worse then lions. So it could be worse."
Mansta had often wondered why the big cats were all shaped differently, but he knew they were given to different skills.
"Yes. If you eat until you're full, you will have the strength to get back home and hunt for yourself. We have good hunting on this side of the river; I can spare an antelope to help you. And I can spare the time to make sure you get home soon. I don't have much to do for the next few days."
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Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 2:24 pm
Your probably right about that! Cheetahs are awful fast! Not even Nja can keep up with them once they start running! Unlike leopards, on the edge of the bonelands there had been cheetahs for Njalo to observe as she grew. Always having admired their speed and agility, it was news to the lioness that they couldn't climb. Mostly because she'd never considered it before.
She pondered over this new fact while happily digging into the flesh that had been offered to her, licking the sweet juices and tearing back the fur in order to reach the lean layers of muscle beneath. Murmuring between mouthfuls, Nja can't remember seeing a cheetah near the Bonelands climb so that must be true. That's where Nja is from. The Ithambo'hlabathi... do you know it?
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Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 9:10 pm
"I'm afraid I don't know the name of the place. The closes lion pride, from the direction you came from, is a very dry place though, dry and dusty. Is that where you came from?"
Mantsa knew of the closes few prides, although he didn't know much about them. As he thought more, it was probably something he should learn. Sometimes they got very violent, and with a soon to be wife and cubs surely to follow, it might be something worth knowing.
"What are your pridemates like?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 5:22 am
Well... that kinda sounds like Njalo's pride, but its not like that all the time! Only really in the summer months when the sun is out all the time and it dries everything up! She reassured while continuing to pry muscle from the bones of the lanky beast. Scraping her jaws on the sturdy while material in the process of making sure not to miss a morsel.
While her chivalrous companion deliberated, the lioness feasted on as much meat as she could, as quickly as it could be wolfed down without being sick. She'd have to consume enough to restore her energy and hopefully keep her full until she made her way back to the Ithambo and her awaiting kin.
Without thinking that the leopard may have had some ulterior motive for his questions, the bongo-faced female all too happily obliged. Willingly offering information about the mannerisms and habits of those who dwell within the Bonelands. They're all different.. some of them are nice, but some of them are not so nice. Nja's pride's females are broken up by color! There are the pale lionesses and the dark lionesses. Nja often gets caught in the middle because Nja is both! Nja's pride is also ruled by lots of strong males! They keep the lionesses safe from outsiders and sometimes they get mad when Nja forgets that the rogue males are supposed to stay out and Nja lets them come visit..
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Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 8:19 am
"Well, during the winter I stay close to home, so I've only ever gone wandering in the warmer months. I think it's probably the same place. Are there piles of bone just laying out on the dust?"
Mantsa watched her devour the antelope and hoped one would be enough to fill her up. He wasn't really sure how much a full grown lioness could eat. B Hopefully he wouldn't need to try to catch some hares or anything to round out her meal.
"I guess if I was in a pride, I wouldn't want strange males wandering into my lands, either. But you have a very pretty coat, so I bet both groups want you."
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Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 12:10 pm
Well.. Nja doesn't know. Sounds like Ithambo.. but lots of places look like that when the dry season comes! Little did Njalo realize she wasn't being of much aid to the poor leopard attempting to direct her on the proper path home. Obliviously continuing to gnaw at the antelope placed before her until there was little left but bones, fur and a few spare organs that didn't appeal to the lioness. If the meal she had been offered hadn't completely filled her belly, the half-tone female was too polite to mention it. Licking the garnet stains from her pale muzzle with satisfaction and offering the stranger a head bob of gratitude. That was delicious! Nja thanks you very much!
Washing her face with one paw, a half distracted but agreeable nod. Coming from a male's perspective it was funny to think how similar most of them were, no matter what the species. They certainly liked to keep their females under a close watch and tended not to be terribly keen on the idea of sharing with outsiders. Pausing suddenly to blink those round, yellow eyes. You think so? Nja likes helping both of them, but since the dark Umama raised Nja like her own cub, that's where Nja stays most of the time! Nja has friends amongst the light umzingeli though! Like Nahmba.. Nahmba is always nice to Njalo! Even nicer than the Umama!
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Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 10:35 pm
"It's good that you have friends in your home pride. And I expect that they'll be missing you very badly. Do you feel full enough to go and try and find your home again?"
Mansta didn't mind if she didn't want him to help her, but he was concerned about her well being. She seemed a bit . . . spacey, and he wanted to make sure she got home safely.
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