[Backlogged]
The juvenile had vanished from the den quietly in the early hours of the morning to practice her favourite hobby. Her poor mother probably wouldn't even bat an eyelid. She would playfight with her brothers and sisters but sometimes she just wanted to push herself a little harder. Nondo'vuta could imagine the glory in battle, and she dreamed of being a fiercesome warrior. Unfortunately, it didn't seem that there were many roles in the Pridelands suited to her, and she wondered where she truly fit in. The dark brown juvenile was adorned with a natural silvery armour made of her markings, and she was unusual to look at indeed. There were whisperings in history of a war, a war that happened a long time ago. She loved the peace of her home, and would never want to change that, but war sounded exciting. Just not here, not by her family, her mother. What if it happened again?
Alili was also enjoying an early morning stroll. She had left her juvenile cubs snoozing with their father in the den, and if truth be told was enjoying a little peace. The female had hoped to encounter her friend Bryne, so that she might enjoy a quick spar. It had been awhile, though Alili still hoped to practise. Her family was everything to her now, and she wanted to stay strong for them as well as herself. She could see a shape not too far away, the same sort of shade as her, only much smaller. She frowned and moved closer.
Ah, it seemed the juvenile wasn't the only one who like to visit this quieter area of the pride in the morning. Maybe others came here for to feel peaceful, to escape the business of Pride Rock or to simply hunt whilst the prey may be more unsuspecting. She wasn't entirely sure, but her large red eyes looked to Alili as she came closer. “Hello?”
It was a cub! Well, not a small cub by any means, quite a large one, but she could tell by it's general gait. A juvenile perhaps. Her motherly instinct kicked in and she began to wonder what a youngster was doing out at this time of day on it's own. She certainly didn't look lost. The rays of early sun seemed to make the silver of the little ones pelt shine brightly. “'Ello! I'm Alili” She said cheerfully. “Whatcha doin' out 'ere on ya own?”
Nondo was quite taken aback by the female. She too, was large for a lioness and had a rather messy tuft of hair upon her dark head. If that hadn't been enough then there was her voice, deeper, a little like hers, and she spoke so peculiarly, though she seemed friendly enough. “My name's Nondo'Vuta...I-I was just, practising my sparring skills...” She said proudly, puffing up her little chest. There didn't seem any point in lying. Besides, she was doing something good for the pride, wasn't she, really?
Alili let out a good natured chuckle and smiled at the young female. Excellent! She wished there were more females out there that enjoyed sparring, and she couldn't help but feel immediately charmed by Nondo. Her own children, though not shy, would playfight, but none seemed to take a liking to sparring as a hobby, just a little fun and necessity. “Well, tha's my area of expertise!” She nodded wisely. “There aint many of us females that like to fight bu' I know a few!”
Nondo'vuta's eyes widened. “Really?” She certainly was happy to hear that, spending the first few months of her short life surrounded by hunting and nannies, she didn't see much of the other side of the Pride. “Even though it's a peaceful pride?”
“Well yea'! Sparrin's fun, and we gotta keep strong as a Pride. Lemme see wha' you got about ya.” Alili's bright blue eyes were focused on the cub intently.
“I can't really show you without a partner.” Nondo said boldly. She was a little nervous.
“I'll be ya partner! I won' hurt ya, I promise. I got little ones of my own.” Alili said fondly.
“O-okay.” Nondo braced herself and with a great leap but not a second thought, bounded towards the lionesses forelegs and began to swat and them this way and that, her tiny claws still wholly hiding in her dark paws. She couldn't hurt this friendly lady, not when they could be partners!
Suddenly Alili made a powerful and swift movement to the left, Nondo wobbled and slid into the dusty ground slightly, but readjusted herself.
“Remember!” The adult spoke. “Ya opponent isn't gonna stay in one place!” Alili remember how she first sparred with Bryne, and the two had taught either much in the course of their practice. “Ya gotta be fast and strong!”
Nondo whipped her head around as fast as she could and bounced again towards her large opponent, however this time she misjudged her balance and ended up falling sideways.
A giant charcoal paw reached out to steady her gently. “Tha' being said, you still gotta think carefully about where ya paws are goin'. Try again!”
The juvenile pounced a few more times, Alili standing almost perfectly still, only occasionally moved to throw her off balance. She expected Nondo'vuta to call it off soon, to become tired, but the longer they practiced for, the more she could see the fire in the youngsters eyes. Grinning, she knew that perhaps she was something special, maybe she had a real passion for this like Alili did, but maybe it was something even stronger than that... just maybe. She was so young, but she could be a promising fighter some day, if she carried on practising like this.
Eventually the dark cub did tire, and Alili crouched down next to her, watching the sun rise higher into the sky. She would have to go home and tend to her own sweet cubs soon. The female hadn't had time to herself this morning, but she had found something far far greater.
Nondo was tired but overjoyed, she hoped Alili would mentor her to become a great fighter like she was, though Alili didn't have any desire to become a warrior and was a mother, Nondo'vuta wondered where her future could take her.
“Come on.” Alili said cheerfully, “I'll take ya back to ya mama.”
