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 Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 3:56 pm
 Shabnam had been following a herd of elephants across the lands. She knew that elephants had a good sense of where to find water. That was the reason she followed them. On her own, she would have a hard time finding water. Unless there was something really definable about the area, she wouldn't remember how to get there. They were definitely not a prey option. By herself, she wouldn't be able to take one down, even a baby elephant.
Shabnam didn't realize how close to the ocean they were. She smelled salt in the air but had never even seen the ocean before. She had to wonder where the elephants were leading her. Her eyes scanned the area. Her ears stayed perked for any sounds. A lone hyena was an easy kill for a pack of predators but she could run fast if she had to.
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 4:33 pm
Rani needed time away from her pride, away from her family and few friends, she needed to think about what she just did before she could look herself in the eyes much less anyone else. To her it was logical, but only after her impulsive decisions does the emotion tend to dawn on her like aftershock from an earthquake.
This was the time one had to look into the current of the rush one created and rise above the adversity and stand at arraignment with pride in her heart and womb. Or it was the time for her to crumble under the pressure and bring shame to herself, family and trade for all females. Psh, talk about pressure.
As she thought, she sat on her small rock island sunbathing on a small patch of sand and grass, which contained her most precious treasures. The elephants were an unusual sight, it pulled her into reality and she was now on guard and to say the hyena was out of place would be an understatement. She stayed and watched the rainbowed creature, analyzing.
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 4:46 pm
Shabnam became extremely wary. There was a strange scent on the air and she couldn't quite figure out what it was. She should not have followed the elephants this far. Though they were most likely on their way towards a good watering hole. She seriously debated on turning back or if she should keep following them. She had just taken a step to turn around when something caught her eye. It was a something that did not fit into the landscape.
A lioness, unlike any she had ever seen before. Her nostrils flared as she got upset at herself. How foolish of her to keep going into lands she was unfamiliar with. As she always told herself, where there is one lion, there are bound to be more. The only exception had been Theluji, but she had been on a naming quest. There was no doubt that the lioness would spot her. Her mane was so colorful it was announcing her presence.
The only thing she could do was hope that she would not get attacked. Though one lion was not the worse thing to take on. What really worried her was if she had a pride or not. One hyena and a pride of lions would result in disaster for her. She did her best to look harmless and friendly, which was much harder than one would think.
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 4:56 pm
Having not had many other (well, yeah, ok, no other) experience with any Hyenas, Rani certainly didn't want to get the reputation of 'just another lion'. The last thing Rani needed on her karma was denying a thirsty animal from good water, it broke her heart. This new moral code thing of hers tugged hard on her heartstrigs and she stayed laying down.
If she rose, she would clearly be showing agression; if she yelled, she would not be heard without disrupting the elephants. Dangerous and mighty the creatures were, not to be startled in her experiences. Great, now she was speaking in riddles.
She closed her eyes and cleared her mind with one slow breath. 'How would I want to be treated.' It was a mantra more than a question really. The hyena had spotted her by now, so she slowly rose and waited for eye contact then bowed her head. If the bow was returned, there would be pleasentry. If not, then the hyena was clearly after her treasures and would come back to rob her if she didn't do something.
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 11:12 pm
The lioness seemed to be thinking. She was probably thinking about what to do with a hyena trespassing on her land. Shabnam waited patiently, her breathing slowed. After awhile, the lioness got up and bowed her head to her. Shabnam had to resist smiling and breathing a sigh of relief. Smiling for her would look like she was baring her teeth angrily. She bowed her head slowly to the lioness.
Shabnam sure hoped that was the correct thing to do. Her eyes flicked to the surroundings just to make sure that there were no other lions around. She raised her head up slowly. Nope, the lioness was the only one around. She cleared her throat, "Greetings. I hope I'm not intruding on you." A friendly approach would be best. This was a full grown lion unlike her young friend.
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 11:36 pm
Perhaps this would be a blessing, without her muse Rani really had no objective party to bounce her ideas off of. But this needed to be done away from Rani's treasure island. With the return nod, Rani leaped with agility on and through the rock peninsula back to the shore with a ernest smile.
"No, no, just taking a break from my pride to sunbathe. I'm Rani'Kob, may I ask what you're doing so near the Kizingo'Zaa lands? I hope you're not trying to take down an elephant by yourself" The lioness was not a guard, she wouldn't run the hyena off, her consern was mostly for the gold as well as breaking some ice. 'Stay focused' she reminded herself as she felt her thoughts momentarily wander.
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:16 am
Shabnam did her best to smile without looking like she was baring her teeth. The lioness was friendly and even offered her name. That meant she was safe. Lions usually didn't play games from what she had observed of them.
Shabnam cocked her head to the side at the mention of the Kizingo'Zaa. She had never heard of them but they must be a pride of lions. Stupid, she really had wandered too close to lands that belonged to a pride. "I didn't mean to come so very near. I was following the elephants to their different watering holes. They tend to remember where to find water when there is none to be found." She padded forward a bit more so that Rani could hear her better. "I am Shabnam. The Kizingo'Zaa, that is your pride?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 9:59 am
Now with the pace, an idea floated into her mind like a feather from above. "Silly elephants probably came for a salt water soak." She pointed to them with her head.
"I could take you to good, fresh water. In exchange though, I must tell you, I have a condition. Don't worry, Kizingo'Zaa is a peaceful pride, and I am a humble thief, I have no desire to harm you." Her smile was pleasant and honestly a little hopeful. Rani thought she may still sound a little crazy, so she continued.
"I just need another female to talk to. I'm usually all about having fun, but I'm a little confused. I've done something I know will benefit me and my pride but it might be crazy." She looked at the hyena, hoping with her glossy emerald eyes that she wouldn't run off. "And the water's not far." She added as a 'with cherrys on top.'
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 8:28 pm
Shabnam made a confused face at what Rani said about the elephants. She never knew they soaked in salt water. That was new to her. "I'll have to remember that next time I follow them." Knowledge was always a good thing.
Great, she had to give advice for some fresh water. Though she was really thirsty. Her throat was rather dry even though she did her best to sound normal while speaking. What was it with friendly lions, especially females? First Theluji and now this one. Perhaps they had nothing to fear since they were part of prides and thus could be friendly to strangers. Whatever the reason, there was only one answer to give, "Of course. It's good to know your pride is friendly."
It was a good think Shabnam had no possessions since Rani was a thief for her pride. She had to wonder why a pride would need to steal anything.
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 9:15 pm
Thank the gods. She started in the direction of the fresh water stream for the hyena to follow. This was about to be a lot to lay on an innocent creature, but really she just needed to hear it be said outloud.
"I'm just going to dive in, my pride numbers are quite low and this conserns me very much, because it means my pride is not flourishing as it deserves. My first plan was a cub-heist, but that is a huge undertaking for one thief, especially for the kinds of numbers we could use, how would they know I am serious (how could she know she was worthy)? So that has become a long term goal, something that's going to take seasons of planning." That would be enough on that subject, Rani didn't want to scare her off.
"So I decided to have a fling with a rouge male to dedicate to my pride. I'm not a particularly... Motherly lion." She kicked a rock.
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Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 1:36 am
Shabnam followed after her, trying to stay in step with Rani. Even though she trusted the lioness to not attack her, she kept her senses open to any threats. Shabnam was not stupid. Another lion could come along and attack. Even elephants could be really dangerous. A stampede of elephants could kill many of them.
Shabnam made sure to pay attention to what Rani said. Some of it alarmed her a lot. They kidnapped cubs? What kind of pride was this? She had never come across other prides that boasted about taking cubs. She hoped that the planning was never completed.
When Rani revealed that she was not motherly, it was not a shock. Shabnam had often wondered how well she would be with her own. "I would say don't worry about it. I don't consider myself motherly either. But if I care about someone, I take good care of them. I'm sure it will be the same for you, natural." She hoped it was natural for her too. She offered a reassuring look to Rani.
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Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 10:55 pm
The other female disclosed her teeth in that smile, instead of fear the lion found herself more comforted than from any other of the smiles. Really, all she could do was hope that her love and compassion would shine through the dirt; perhaps clean her up even. At this point the running water was very clearly just ahead of them, she took a moment of silence to just breathe.
"I shouldn't have dumped all of that on you. I tend to get a good feeling about others and just run with it, honestly I don't know much of hyenas" Sort of a lie. "Well the water is right through that brush, " Uh, "thank you." Yes, that sounded good. Oh, "Have a nice day." Sort of awakwardly not she turned around deciding not to think of this moment when she the thought of the message.
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Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2012 7:48 pm
Shabnam looked up as she heard the sound of running water. Her tongue lolled out of her mouth in happiness. Water, oh how nice it sounded. She nodded to Rani, letting the lioness go off without saying a word. She would also remember to tell Theluji to warn her cubs from coming near this pride when they went on their naming quest. Poor things wouldn't stand a fighting chance.
Once the lioness was out of sight, she went over to quench her thirst. The water felt so good on her parched tongue that she sat there drinking water slowly for awhile. After completely satisfied, she headed away from the ocean. She needed to get back to an area she was familiar with.
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