|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 11:54 am
 The lioness was on her off time, relaxing by the watering hole. Babies were good things except for the fact that they required her to actually work. Expecting babies was mostly sitting around making small talk with the mother and waiting for labor to start. Suffice to say, it got boring and stressful real fast. So she was at the water hole, enjoying being around many different lions and lionesses, most of whom she knew at least casually. Sadly, none of the males she could see were interesting enough to talk to...or they were related to her. That happened, when your grandfather was Unyezi.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 12:05 pm
Ukarimu had been spending a lot of time adjusting to his new home. He had been born a rogue and rasied as a rogue, so conforming to a more set style of life had been a bit of a culture shock to him. Once he felt himself getting into a type of groove for the pride, though, he felt himself relaxing. He may never be as pious as some of the other members, but he was respectful to those that deserved it. Perhaps a bit too much, as some of the higher-class lions didn't always appreciate how submissive he could be. He really had no idea how to handle it, but he knew that he didn't want to be too comfortable around someone of a higher class than him. He didn't want to get into serious trouble. He approached the watering hole to take a drink, wondering if he should look for a group that may go out hunting. He wasn't bored, but he wasn't happy, always idly lingering around.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 12:13 pm
She was getting bored when a very dark lion with a blonde mane came over for a drink. Now there was one she recognized! Caritas picked herself up and meandered over to the black lion.
"I see you're still here, Ukarimu," she commented, coming close to him. "How are you finding the pride?"
He'd seemed like a fairly nice lion when she met him before, and it boded well that he'd joined the pride. A male she hadn't grown up around, a lion she wasn't related to, and one who didn't know past politics. She hoped he didn't care for them either, but the last time they spoke he hadn't really been in a position to be involved.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 1:05 pm
Ukarimu bent his head down to drink, getting a bit in this throat before a lioness approached him. One that he recognized, and sometimes had hoped he would run in to again. He hadn't been talking to her on an equal level the last time they had run into one another, and it had taken a lot of reflection on his part to realize that she hadn't seemed...impressed by that. So, he'd try to act like he had when he had just been a rogue, while also just giving her the respect she deserved as a female.
"Hello," he said, a drop of water slipping from his chin. "Its a change of pace, but I'm feeling much more comfortable to live within it. How have you been?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 1:10 pm
"That's good to hear," the lioness replied warmly. She'd probably be more concerned if he'd said there were no problems at all settling in - joining a pride of any kind had to be some form of adjustment.
"I've been here and there, around," she answered. "There's more cubs around, and more that'll be around soon, so I've been fairly busy of late." Caritas rolled her eyes as she thought about it. "Never just one breeding at a time, always two or more at once."
She studied him. "I haven't seen you around though - are you a Hunter or a Guard then?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 1:51 pm
Ukarimu laughed. It seemed that a lot of things females did, they did in pairs. "Perhaps they find it easier to handle when they aren't the only pregnant ones," he said with an amused tone.
"I am a hunter," he said with a nod. "I think it helped me adjust quicker, doing something that I normally do. Its a bit easier going out in a small group than trying to hunt alone, though. Its also a good way to get to know some of the others, and start feeling like I belong here." He wouldn't claim to be extremely friendly with anyone, but it was always nice to see a familiar face to chat with when he went out hunting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 1:56 pm
Caritas nodded. The logic of what he said made sense, but she didn't have the personal experience he did, having grown up here. She supposed that were she to go elsewhere, even just on a trip, she would feel as shy as Ukarimu seemed to.
"I could see that," was all she said in response. "I'm glad that you seem to be adjusting well."
A sudden thought crossed her mind and the lioness' heart began beating faster in sudden panic. He'd spent a lot of time in small groups, and she knew well that there were roughly even numbers between the genders in both Hunters and Guards.
"Have you...met anyone special?" the black lioness asked carefully.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 3:59 pm
"Huh?"
That was a question he wasn't expecting. He also wasn't certain that he was understanding her correctly. Really, he wasn't in a rush for anything, so perhaps he just misunderstood her.
"No," he said slowly shaking his head. "I do find it interesting that some of the high class lions decide to go hunting with everyone else....that's a bit special." Which, he did. It was helping him deal with the class difference that he took pretty seriously. He was talking to Caritas pretty calmly this time, and she seemed pleased because of it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 4:05 pm
Well, she supposed that this was a decently good answer, though the poor boy seemed a bit dim in that respect. Probably not a bad thing, as long as he was intelligent enough to take a hint or two when she gave them.
His perception on the classes was worth noting though. And responding to. "Some high class lions want a more active day. Others feel they should contribute to the pride in some way. Still others were elevated from a lower class by taking a mate, and continue with the duties they had before." It was every high class member's right to take on the title of Lord or Lady, but not everyone chose to take that route. Caritas picked up that those who willingly chose other jobs - such as Guard or Hunter - were better regarded for it.
"But you met no special lioness?" Caritas pressed him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 4:20 pm
"I find that interesting," he said with a pondering look on her face. "It helps keep a balance of sorts, I guess."
He was content to just ponder this with her nearby, but she wanted to press the matter further. He...wasn't sure how he felt about anyone right not, really. Should he be that honest? Or just answer her question without giving up any more information?
"No," he finally said with a shake of his head.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 4:29 pm
Oh that was good, that was very good. Caritas felt fairly proprietary about Ukarimu, since (in her mind) she had encouraged him to join when he might have otherwise just moved on to another place. Not to mention the good looking and the fact that he hadn't been around all her life like far too many pridemembers. And the fact that there was no way he was even remotely related to her.
"Yes, we believe that the Great Lion doesn't favor us all equally, but we also try to live in such a way that it doesn't make for strife betwen the classes," she responded. These were old thoughts, things she'd mused upon again and again. Not really the most interesting things to discuss.
"Well, I'm glad to hear that," Caritas went on, not quite smugly. "If you had, I'd have to be jealous!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 8:14 pm
"Jealous?" Ok, well, Ukarimu wasn't that stupid. She had been nice to him, but perhaps she had been judging him to see if he was worth courting. Clearly...he was, and he couldn't help but feel a little....self conscience?
"Well, if it helps I wasn't really interested in anyone else I've run into," he said with a smile. He tried to have a bit of a teasing look on his face, but he wasn't the best at making silly faces.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 8:18 pm
Ah-ha, now it seemed like he was catching on! The question was, should she ease up a bit, or keep going heavy on the assumption that anything more subtle would simply go over his head? It was a difficult choice.
"It does help," Caritas admitted at last. "But only if you have a bit of interest in at least one lioness in this whole pride." The black lioness gave him a coy wink.
But really, she just wanted him to confirm what she was hoping. Out loud. Otherwise this would all have been just a waste of time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 6:59 pm
"Well, only if you'd count yourself."
There. He wasn't that great at the courtship game, as he had never really tried it himself. He felt clumsy and awkward, but she didn't seem to mind. It did make him seem a bit more genuine, right?
He bowed his head down again for another quick drink of water to help ease off his nerves a bit. He was trying to not overthink anything, as Caritas seemed to really enjoy this. He liked being around her, but he wasn't sure how much was too much when it came to her, regardless of class.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 7:04 pm
Caritas nearly jumped for joy, but stopped herself at the last moment. No need to scare the boy now that he'd finally said what she'd longed to hear! No, she had to keep cool, keep calm...she could do this.
"Well," the black lioness appeared to consider the statement. "I am a single lioness in the pride...so I suppose that does count." Her black eyes sparkled happily. So what if he was a little awkward and clumsy? He was handsome and he seemed quite genuine. Not to mention the different. Not being related to anyone else in the pride was a lovely perk to the Midwife, who had heard (thirdhand) about the fight between the cousins.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
