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 Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 12:38 pm
Having retired back into the more comfortable shade where they might talk in comfort Haraka turned to regard the female whom had approached him and settled back on his haunches. In the few moments it had taken them to retrace their steps back to the shade Haraka had begun to doubt just what she had actually been talking about...surely he had misunderstood. Haraka had never heard of a female simply coming up and propositioning someone in the manner this one had - wasn't there supposed to be star crossed love...or a wild fling on a stormy night or some other such fr more romantic touch to it all?
Or perhaps this was just one of those odd pridal traditions that he'd encountered once or twice on his travels. No surely he was completely mistaken and had misunderstood her request in the first place. "So I think maybe I misheard you" He started out "But you said you were looking for a ...proper male?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 1:13 pm
 Following after the lion, Yejide continued to keep a watchful gaze on the other. Chalking up the male's gait as he walked. There was a power and grace to his steps. Or maybe she imagined it. The lioness was already quite partial to him. And up until now this guy had been adequate enough. There wasn't anything wrong with him, as far as she figured. That was enough for her to take a fancy of him, eh?
There were still a few things to judge him on... but she doubted he would do any less than perfect. When he repeated the question Yejide smiled bitterly. There couldn't have been that much of an age gap between them, but this male still seemed so innocent... It was awkward to have to explain it to him. And mildly annoying. "I'm looking for a male to sire my cubs." She said delicately, hoping not to scare him off. "You wont have to worry about caring for them... they will come with me." She assured, "Have you never been with a female...?" She asked awkwardly, curious towards Haraka's innocence.
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 1:44 pm
Haraka got the impression that the spotted girl had suddenly gotten a bit annoyed with him, as though her question was fairly normal and shouldn't require very much explanation. Haraka surmised that he could likely chalk this up to cultural differences of some sort. At least he knew that he had been right and hadn't just jumped to entirely the wrong conclusion right from the start.
"Of course I have" He told her, mostly to save his own pride a bit..and then because this might just confuse her all the more with him seeming both so clueless but also somewhat experienced he went on to explain a bit "It's just where I was born there is generally more of a courtship, I've never been approached in such a manner before" Especially by someone he didn't even know was the part he left unsaid.
"It is hard to take care of cubs on your own.." He hazarded after a few moments of thought. Was he even the type to sire cubs and then leave without ever knowing what became of them? Some Lions were and some lions weren't and Haraka found - somewhat to his own discomfort - that he didn't have to much of a problem with it...so long as he at least knew they would grow up in a safe and stable environment. "I would not wish to sire cubs that would not have a good life" He explained.
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 2:00 pm
Yejide shrugged as she nodded in understanding. It wasn't as if she never learned of love. The lioness saw some couples in her pride who did care for each other. But she was afforded such a luxury. Those males already picked their favorites and it was easier not to fall in love with this one, or any other male... it wasn't like they would be able to continue the relationship. Yejide was only to get pregnant and return to her pride. Strict orders.
Mulling over the male's statement, Yejide figured in couldn't hurt to humor him. "I find you attractive. And I'm sure you are a good lion..." She frowned as she spoke, "I uh..." Her eyes returned to the male, "I just met you so..." Realizing how awkward it was to force any bit of romance when it didn't suit the situation made Yejide drop the subject altogether.
But when the other pressed on his concern for his cubs, Yejide understood completely. "Where I come from... we pride ourselves in our strong blood. Your cubs will be well looked after, I promise. Right now our pride has had it's share of troubles, but it's only made us stronger as a group." Allowing herself to sit, the female relaxed under the shade of the tree beside the lion.
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 2:25 pm
Haraka allowed his eyes to roam over the female as she sat before him - to really look at her for the first time she had approached him. She looked to be well taken care of, free of blemishes that would indicate abuse or other hardships - at least as far as he could tell. Turning his eyes back to the female he gave her a soft look "We can at least exchange names I imagine" He told her kindly. She did not seem to wish for a courtship and even Haraka acknowledged the pointlessness that would prove to be...but that did not mean this had to be a cold and impersonal affair now did it? Perhaps it did Haraka did not know enough about her to judge.
"And these cubs you seek..they would help your pride?" He hazarded a guess based on her words though in reality it was little more then grasping at straws, she was clearly attached to her pride to speak of it in such a manner and that said something to Haraka as well, rarely were lioness attached to a place unless it was a relatively nice place to live. Or at least that's what Haraka told himself. "My name is Haraka" He shared with her.
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 2:53 pm
Being on the receiving end of inspection wasn't such a grand experience. Without thinking Yejide sucked in her stomach, which wasn't all that round to begin with, watching as he panned his eyes over her figure. There wasn't so much of a response out of him...
Huh, so this is how he must have felt when she was watching him. It wasn't a good feeling. Being silently judged.
Yejide tried to train it to memory... but she would most likely forget any compassion the next time she watches someone. It was just a habit of her's.
"Well, I am Yejide." The female smiled as she spoke, recalling a funny little story she was told as a cub. Always eager to share the story with others... she felt it made her special even though she was certain it wasn't true. But for now the lioness remained silent. She could always force the story onto him later. "Oh... uh, what about you? Whats your name?"
It was odd that this pair worked backwards. Settling on the fact that they were going to mate before backtracking to get to know each other...
"I don't have a purpose for the cubs. I just..." Her voice trailed off as she tried to gather to words for explanation, "My pride is allowing females to leave and pick a mate rather than choosing among the paw-full of males currently in our pride." Absently the female scratched at her ear, having been bitten by a bug. "I just wanted to have a choice."
When he shared his name the female only nodded. Sharing an awkward silence as she stared at the male. What to talk about...? Or maybe they should just get right to it?
"Uhhh... so, you are a rogue?" Gotta love forced conversation.
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 3:21 pm
"Yejide is an interesting name" He told her, testing out the way it rolled off his tongue "Does it mean anything?" Many mothers named theirs cubs for a special reason and Yejide was unique enough that Haraka was curious.
Hiraka nodded sagely at the lioness after she made her proclamation - that if nothing else made sense to the lion. Choice was important and it was even more flattering to think that this female had decided to choose him. Of course he had no idea how many males she had stumbled upon in the meantime - for all he knew she might have just picked the first one she came across and it had happened to be him. "Choice is important" He agreed and while Haraka was of the opinion that everyone should have such a choice automatically..he had to remind himself of the obvious differences between them.
"I am for the moment" He told her "When I came of age I decided to strike out and find my own way through life, perhaps someday I will find the proper place to settle down"
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 3:37 pm
He asked about her name. That was all of the opportunity she needed to go into the marvelous epic which was her mother's story. "My name?" She asked eagerly, leaning into the male as she grinned broadly. "It means, 'Looks like her mother'." Taking a quick inhale, the lioness elaborated, "My father had an affair with a rather specific animal spirit. One of the giraffe. She took the form of a lioness and coupled with my father in his dreams. A seer told my father that the spirit deposited their baby beside a river bank besides our pride... when he went to retrieve the cub he found her. He found me~." Yejide was used to a multitude of reactions after telling the tale. Some believed her but most didn't. Over the years Yejide lost her youthful wonder, kind of like a child who believes in Santa Claus. Eventually the belief in such a wild story goes away. But only a small part of her still clung to the romantic magic of her birth story... or she wouldn't continue to retell it.
Her eyebrows furrowed at Hiraka's comment though, "Why didn't you stay with your pride?" She asked, having the thought of abandoning her pride members never cross her mind.
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 9:03 am
Haraka listened politely to her story...but it seemed more then a bit strange, sort of like a fairy tale one would tell a cub and perhaps that was how this one had started. "Your spots do look like the pattern on a giraffe" He agreed after a few moments. Haraka didn't really believe her story but he saw no reason to be cruel by saying so out loud or poking fun at what was obviously very important story to her judging by the eagerness she had displayed in telling it.
And since she had taken the time to explain the meaning of her name Haraka decided to share the meaning of his own "Haraka means fast" He told her " My mother always told me that I was never sitting still as a cub, always racing about with my siblings"
Pondering her question for a few moments Haraka shrugged slightly "I had many siblings..and aunts and uncles and cousins..and other relatives in my Pride and while I loved my family I didn't think I would ever be able to eventually find someone..special..in a pride I was almost entirely related to. It was sad to leave but I don't regret it"
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 10:35 am
The irritation to her flesh caused the lioness to continue to flicker the agitated ear. Continually fanning her left ear and she frowned. Yejide was comfortable enough with this lion to lower her guard. Taking a look around at the various plant life before setting her sights to the slow moving clouds above. She noticed that Haraka wasn't intentionally trying to be mean... he merely accepted the story and didn't try to hound her about it.
During his explanation, Yejide was looking skywards. Paying keen attention to the male's words even if her eyes weren't turned toward him. This had been the longest Yejide didn't have some story in her mind.... Really trying her hardest to remain thoughtful to the male beside her.
It was only when a thought sprung upon her did the lioness swivel her head to smile at Haraka. "So... you are a fast one?" She asked. Where she came from it was common practice to name cubs for what reflects the cub in some way and not the adult he or she turns into. "Would you care to demonstrate?" Motioning with her paw towards the sun, Yejide fanned it dismissively. "We ought to do it during the night... it's much too hot right now." She shrouded her true intentions of getting to watch the male 'in action' by having it done in the form of a game.
Batting her paw to the itchy ear, the female bobbed her head as it was scratched. "When it all comes down to it, all that matters is continuing the blood line~." She said through laughter, "I wish you luck in your search. I know I couldn't do it... leave my pride, for too long anyway." Yejide looked down at her paws before she shook, as if it the very thought gave her the willies.
Fin
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