|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 10:41 am
 The lioness was out enjoying the fresh morning air, away from the heart of the pride. There was so much going on there every day, oftentimes one simply wanted to get away from it all and from everyone. She loved her siblings, her parents, her aunts, uncles and far too numerous cousins, but every lion needed some space, some time to herself. That was what brought Hama out here so early, and so far. She was a quiet sort, content to let her boisterous family make all the noise and she to merely smile and nod in acknowledgement. Ah, but what was that out there? A pair of figures, heading towards the pride? They were too far out for her to make out much, so the lioness settled back on her haunches to wait. They would get here in time, and then she would know more.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 11:05 am
Botros was on a mission.. sort of. Since the Aali'makabila had dispersed, he didn't quite know what to do with himself. He knew he didn't want to stay a rogue so he had considered his options before settling on searching for the Pridelands. It wasn't exactly rumored to be much like his home had been but it had one thing the Aali'makabila did not: his father.
"We must almost be there," he muttered, scanning the horizon. "We've gone at least as far as the bird said," Mo'olelo agreed with a small nod. Every creature along the way seemed to know the pride they were looking for and still it had taken them what felt like forever to get this far.
When the Aali'makabila disbanded, Mo'olelo had taken it very hard. The only thing he knew to do was stick with someone he trusted, he wasn't very good at making his own decisions and he accepted that about himself. The biggest decision he had made lately was deciding to go with Botros, though he regretted that they had left behind brothers and sisters and other friends. Nobody else seemed to have such a specific plan.
"What was his name again?" Botros was glad to have company along his trip, he figured it would make it easier when he settled into a new pride to have someone else around who understood. Mo wasn't a new friend, either, so that was a bonus. He was annoyed none of his brothers had come, though.
"Barafu," he repeated, "The pride isn't like ours so there's a better chance just anybody will know him but it's so big, I don't know."
Then he spotted the golden lioness sitting in the distance.
"Mo, look," he said. He stumbled when he looked to where Botros gestured and spotted a golden lioness. She was very bright, it was lucky it wasn't so close to sunrise anymore or it might have been harder to see her.
Gold. Wasn't that a known Pridelander color?
"Are we here?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 11:09 am
They were definitely coming her way, and talking. Though it wasn't until the lion with the pink mane asked if they were here that she could actually make out any words. She wondered if they were actually looking for the pride. Well, it was a large and old pride, and commonly known for quite a ways in all directions, so it was a reasonable assumption.
She supposed it would be reasonable to help them out a little. After all, she knew where she was and they clearly didn't.
"Good morning," she called softly. "Welcome to the Pridelands. I hope this is what you've come seeking." If they were looking for some other pride, such as the Jini-msemi, she could give them directions at least, but they would have had to be seriously lost to mistake this for a swamp.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 11:20 am
"Where else would we be?" he responded rudely, not terribly worried about offending his friend. It was a strange kind of question, here was indeed wherever they were. If here was where they wanted to be was another question.
He didn't say anything else, though, because it was apparent they were within earshot of the stranger that was watching them, maybe even waiting for them. He stopped a few steps after she called out to them, keeping a respectful distance.
Mo grumbled incoherently when Botros made fun of his choice of words but he didn't look any more upset about it than he had at the start of their conversation. He was a good and content follower.. and more than willing to put up with Botros for it.
He stopped short beside Botros when they were greeted by Hama, his attention on the golden lioness almost making him miss that his companion had stopped. When she welcomed them to the Pridelands he couldn't help but grin and glance over to Botros.
"We were looking for the Pridelands," Botros said, his face more serious than Mo'olelo's but still looking rather relieved to know they were at their destination, "My name is Botros, this is Mo'olelo. We're from what was the Aali'makabila, we were hoping to join your pride."
He had no idea who they were talking to but it seemed appropriate to introduce themselves and explain their purpose. Obviously they were near the borders if there was only one lioness here from what was said to be a very large pride and while he wasn't worried about a physical threat, he knew it was important to be polite.
Mo's eyes went back to Hama, still smiling despite Botros' rather subdued reaction to their arrival. He probably wouldn't be happy until they managed to find and confront his father.. but he had decided, it seemed, that this is where they would stay regardless of how that turned out.
Hm.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 11:29 am
Hama decided to ignore the rude remark, especially as it did not seem meant for her. The two strangers came up quite peacefully and she smiled and nodded as they introduced themselves. They certainly seemed nice enough, though far be it for her to say who could and couldn't join the pride.
"I am Hama, born and raised here," she answered. "It is not my place to say who may stay and who must go, but I feel certain that you will be welcomed." Rare was the lion who was turned away from the Pridelands, but still, to accept or deny was not for her.
"Would you like to come with me?" she offered, getting to her feet. It was the least she could do, to guide them to someone who could formally accept them into the pride.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 11:43 am
"Pleased to meet you, Hama," he replied politely. She certainly looked the part of born and raised Pridelander, but that might have been a coincidence.. unless every creature they spoke to left out the detail of the entire pride being golden coated. Seemed a very specific but noticeable detail to leave out.
"We would appreciate it," he said when she offered to lead them. He glanced over to Mo and nodded.
Mo didn't say anything else just yet and though he appeared outwardly calm, he wore a smile and his tail swayed behind him excitedly. They had arrived, they wouldn't have to be rogues any more and Botros seemed keen to stay here so they could settle in for good.
He liked, too, that they were met near the borders by a single lion. She was more cheerful and welcoming than he imagined the Aali guards had been but it felt appropriate. The more parallels he could make with home, the more easily he could get comfortable.
He returned the nod to Botros, though wondered why he hadn't asked about his father yet. Maybe it would be better to wait but this was their first chance to ask someone who might know.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 12:00 pm
"It is my pleasure to be of assistance," she replied cordially and began walking. It was interesting that one of the two was much more talkative than the other, but she supposed that, like herself with her family, the other - Mo'olelo - felt that Botros was saying all that was necessary.
That was a mindset she could understand all too well. And agree with.
"I hope you like it here," Hama said at last, feeling somewhat awkward as the conversation appeared to die off.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 1:36 pm
Botros followed along after Hama immediately, looking around and taking in some of the area before saying anything, even as he recognized that the conversation was quickly becoming small and awkward. He wasn't sure about liking it here but he would make it work.
And he decided he could continue the conversation in a more productive direction. He was waiting out of courtesy but there wasn't a good response to 'I hope you like it here'.
"We're looking for a lion named Barafu, do you know him?" he asked suddenly.
Mo's steps were more cheerful and enthusiastic, and his eyes searched their surroundings more thoroughly than Botros. His mind was not burdened with the thought of finding family and for now he was happily free of anxiety about the culture shock they were almost certain to experience.
"There might be more than one," Mo spoke up suddenly when Botros asked about Barafu, glancing at his friend when he was given a funny look, "It's true."
He looked to Hama.
"This one would be blue like him," he nodded to Botros, "Maybe speckled like him, too.."
Mo couldn't remember exactly what Botros' mother looked like. Mo's family was strange in that his mother was a mzazi, he had the opportunity to grow up with his mother as a constant presence. He knew Baako was gray, green and swirly but other details he wasn't so sure of.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 1:45 pm
This wasn't entirely expected. They were looking for someone? She didn't know any Barafu off the top of her head, couldn't even place the name, though she didn't doubt there was one in the pride.
She was surprised when Mo did speak up at that point, giving her more information about the Barafu she didn't know. Family member, it seemed. Which made the lions' choice to come to the Pridelands make a great deal more sense than it had mere moments before.
"Well, I do not know any Barafu, but it is a large pride. I do not even know every member of my own family," she added with a small laugh.
"I am sure you will manage to find him though. And if he is not still alive, I am certain some of the older lions will be able to help you figure that out."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 2:01 pm
While he did indeed give Mo a look for cutting in with some helpful information, he was grateful that he did. It was something he shouldn't forget, names were not unique though his appearance might make a difference. He knew to look for blue and red, though the red was, apparently, not directly from his father.
"Just how big is this pride?" he asked.
Mo sighed when she said she didn't know any Barafu and had no specific leads to work from. He was already put-off. It would have been much, much easier if they just happened upon the exact right lion to take them to Botros' father. Saying the pride was large only made it sound more tiring.
But he said nothing else, just walked along and listened for the answer to Botros' question.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 2:05 pm
Hama paused, considering the question. She'd never really tried to count how many members there were, and certainly couldn't say exactly how much land they claimed. But it was a good question and she had an idea of how many lions lived in a good-sized area, and she knew about how many good-sized areas there were, so it she added all of that together...
"I think there are more than two hundred lions living here," the lioness replied at last. "It is very large...it could be that I am related to the Barafu you are looking for, and don't even know it. This is...not uncommon," she concluded. That's what parents, grandparents and aunts and uncles were for. To remember how everyone was related.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 2:19 pm
Two hundred lions was a lot. And that seemed to be a low estimate based on what she said. It made it more surprising they only ran into one lioness and had yet to really see anybody else wandering by. He didn't get a chance to look around, though, because she mentioned that she might even be related to Barafu and so to him.
"Could be," he repeated thoughtfully, examining Hama's fur carefully now. She didn't look much like any family he knew he had but.. how far apart did you have to be before you looked this different? Probably not very far.
Mo, on the other hand, was completely distracted thinking about the size of the pride even when Hama and Botros began to ponder the possibility of her being related to Barafu. He didn't even get to finish thinking about how strange it was they hadn't seen anyone else before he spotted a nearby group of lions, walking.
He stumbled, slowing down to watch them go. They were too far to talk to and apparently very focused on whatever their task was but there were more. And one he picked up the pace and the walk continued, slowly it became more and more apparent they were, indeed, in pride lands.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 2:26 pm
Hama didn't waste any thought to trying to find visual evidence of relation between herself and either male. It wasn't something she found very important. If it became important, she was certain that someone would tell her. That just seemed to be how things worked in her life. Especially since she was no kind of leader.
The conversation died off as each of the lions was deep in their own thoughts and the lioness continued leading the rogues towards the heart of the pride and the rulers therein.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
