It just wasn't fair. Nothing seemed to be fair anymore in the eyes of the fiery lioness' eyes. Her sister had a litter of children not only before her other siblings, but before her. Five children no less! While the father was some rogue she had spent a night of passion with, or several for all she knew, he had still sired children with Mkali rather then one of her seven other siblings. That's what infuriated her. Why not her?! She was just as good looking as any of her other siblings, if not better if she could say so herself. Maybe she would show her up and go have a larger litter, or more then her.
Zimran was off duty that day. There were no members of the Pridelands that required her services and all the cubs were accounted for and being watched. There was really...nothing to do. Well, there was always something to do, but nothing truly important to do. As the goddess walked from the dens of the pride, her mind began to wander. It had been so long since she had actually had any personal time. It was usually spent tending cubs, running around the Pridelands looking for members that had called for via various methods or helping Persikka find his place among the pride. While she was far from complaining, it was nice to actually have some time to herself without anything else bothering her.
Huo Banshui moved through the green grass, grumbling to herself about various methods she could use to 'get back' at her sister for having the first litter out of the eight of them. There had to be a way she could enhance her chances of having children if she was to find a male to breed within or even...outside of the Pridelands. The red lioness mentally cringed at the thought of breeding outside. At least it would be something, even though it would be of unknown blood. Who knew that bad genes he would carry or if they were distantly related. The last thing she wanted in her blood was inbreeding.
Of course their paths were bound to meet at some point, that point was not just yet. Zimran was still making her way to the point where she would be seen as the sun continued to raise higher into the sky, never breaking it's daily cycle despite what changed on the earth below. A sigh escaped her mouth. With her duties handled by others and Persikka off doing whatever he did when she was not with him, what was she to do? For once in the time she had been there, she felt truly lost. Surely there was someone out there that needed her assistance. There just had to be someone, anyone.
“You there!” The fiery lioness called out to the lighter one. Huo Banshui had recognized the currently unknown female as a nanny, one that becoming increasingly more known throughout the pride. While she did not know of her name, the daughter of determination certainly knew of her work. “You are a nanny, yes? Nannies usually attend births don’t they? In case there’s any trouble that is.” The question itself did not seem outwardly odd in her opinion, in fact it was quite an innocent question. Though there was little way of starting a conversation otherwise.
The sudden outburst had caught Zimran off-guard. She had no expected someone to suddenly yell at her out of nowhere, much less someone asking if she attended the birthing of cubs. “I...have.” Came the hesitant answer. Though Huo Banshui seemed to not think anything on the topic of her inquiry, Zimran certainly did. “I’ve attended a few in my time here. All of them were at the request of the mother though. I suppose it was a good way of making sure they felt safe and making the mind of the male a little easier as there was someone else to aid her.” If she had expected anyone to ask this kind of question, she had expected a pregnant mother who was thinking of asking for her aid in labor. No, instead she got a very much not pregnant lioness who she still did not know the name of. “And if you don’t mind me asking, just who are you?”
In her haste, she had forgotten her own name! How embarrassing. If she could have, the red pelted lioness’ entire face would have almost glowed a bright shade of red. “My name is Huo Banshui. I apologize for not introducing myself sooner. I’m afraid I don’t know your name either.”
“You don’t know my name, but yet you seem to know of me?”
“Indeed. Your deeds as a nanny to the Pridelands have not gone unnoticed by the other members and there has been some talk of how good you are with the cubs.” Though from what ‘Bannie’ had actually heard, the goddess in front of her still had yet to truly deal with an unruly children. One or more would soon enough come along and then test the nanny’s ability in her profession. “I was wondering if you could aid me in fertility.”
Well that was certainly another odd question that took Zimran back once more. This Huo Banshui in front of her was certainly full of strange questions that continued to surprise her with each new one. “And why would you need my help with that? If it your time the Circle to birth children, it will happen.” Of course there were always the lionesses that were straight up barren and had tried for years upon years to conceive only to be met with failure. It wasn’t until after her words that Zimran had considered that the lioness in front of her may be in one of those kind of situations.
“My sister...she has had children before I.” That by itself sounded absolutely silly and Bannie quickly rectified that by continuing her statement on. “You see, I have seven other sisters and no brothers. There has always been a small race between a few of us to see who would give our mother grandchildren first. While I may not be the first anymore, perhaps I can birth the largest litter.”
“What a silly idea.” Zimran replied with quickly as she frowned at the younger lioness. “Why on earth would you want a large litter? The pregnancy alone would be grueling. The labor hard, rough and with a higher chance of stillborns and runts who may not even make it passed their first year. Death in labor or after birth is always a chance as well. The truth is harsh, but if you truly wish help with your fertility, I may know a few herbal concoctions that may help you.”
A small pause and just as Huo Banshui was about to speak, Zimran continued on. “You should be happy for your sister. From what I heard, the labor was about as difficult as one could manage. Also, I heard the father was a wandering rogue seen at our borders. Which means your sister is raising, what was it...five children, all by herself. You should spend less time worrying about petty competitions that will lead to trouble and more on helping your sister. You are blood after all. Blood is truly all we have in the end and even then, ties can be severed and we can lose even that.”
The words hit the seer hard as she stood there dumbstruck at the heavy words that had just been thrown at her. What could she possibly say in return to that but “T-thank you.” The words were soft and without another one, Huo Banshui turned and walked away, most likely to go and think on the mountain of words that Zimran had just put into her mind.
The goddess of purity watched the young lioness go. Once she was a significant distance away, she sighed and turned the opposite direction to continue on her search for something else to occupy her time. That was not what she had hoped to fill her time with; lessons to adults.
[Word Count: 1363]
