Nondo'vuta moved swiftly through the dry grasses, eager to reach the place where she had offered to meet her old mentor, who was now oddly one of her soldiers, and her responsibility to help train, if she needed any guidance. As it was Alili that had helped to nourish her ambition when she was a cub, she rarely told her what to do or offered suggestion, it simply didn't seem right. Instead, the two females met and would spar and share tips, the Guardian had a great deal of respect for her boisterous friend.
Now Nondo had grown into an adult and had more responsibility, there was less of a gap between the two, they felt more like equals, rather than a faux mother/daughter pair. The age gap in itself was less apparent, though Alili did have a litter of cubs that had reached adolescence, such was the way of life. Cubs didn't seem to stay long for cubs, and soon the Pridelands teemed with many grown children and adults whom were all related and rather far apart in age, yet were all adults.
Alili huffed and puffed as she propelled herself up the hill with her strong legs. Why oh why had she chosen this awkward route to find Nondo? She could have just carried on straight past the watering hole, but the tomboy within her suggested that a little rough route would be good for her. Carrying the extra weight of impending cubs didn't help either, and though it wasn't obvious, she could feel her second pregnancy beginning to take it's toll on her body. It was anyone's guess what Nondo would say, it seemed like they had only just returned to a routine of sparring and hard training, and now she would be ineligible for at least a few months. Perhaps she could send Mbari in her place? Giggling, she thought of her mate with pride. He had blossomed into such a caring father, though not young he had many insecurities about being an adult responsible for tiny lives, and though she wasn't too sure what she was doing either, their litter had turned out to be happy and healthy. They were adolescents now, and they had both missed the tiny furry bodies that used to curl up next to them at bedtime. Mbari had been over the moon when she had told him the news, as had Maawio.
Reaching their meeting point, Nondo could see an equally dark form slightly wavering in the midday heat. She thought they were going to have a good spar, a quick catch up and perhaps a bite to eat, oh how wrong she would be. Eyes narrowing slightly at her approaching friend, she appeared perplexed. Did Alili look different somehow? She shrugged it off- she wasn't the most perceptive of lions on a good day.
Ruffled hair on her head swaying gently in the breeze, Alili heaved herself gently closer to Nondo, panting slightly. As much as she loved having a family and bringing new life into the world, the joys of pregnancy could sometimes be seen as almost a burden. It certainly meant she was slower, less able to defend herself or her family, and her strength seemed to falter more so this time than the last. She found herself praying a little more and worrying a little more, but everything would be fine. Maybe Mbari's paranoia was rubbing off on her- however impossible that would seem. Grinning to the other female a few feet away she called out “'Ey Nondo! 'Ow's it goin'?” Alili's unusual accent was unmistakable, and anyone within a few feet would have probably known exactly who was making all the racket.
Nondo couldn't help but find that familiar voice warm and endearing and cracked a smile as she walked towards Alili. “Good afternoon! I'm doing well thanks, what about yourself?” Nondo'vuta wasn't exactly formal, but the contrast between their voices and mannerisms could often be quite stark and comical in conversation.
“Not too bad, not too bad a' all!” Beaming she sat her rump down on a dry patch of grass and looked to the sun peacefully. “'Ows the guardian business comin' along?”
Nondo's blood red eyes widened in surprise. Alili didn't look like a lioness ready to spar, perhaps she wanted to start a little later. That was fine, there was time for talking beforehand. Nondo often had to remind herself that not everyone wanted to jump straight into business. The itch she had for fighting and battle and strength wasn't one that everyone possessed – Alili found it fun, and she was good at it to, but she doubted she would ever be quite as dedicated as she was. That was fine, of course, the world and the Pridelands was made up of lots of different characters, and they were all as important as one another. Alili did her job, and if it was necessary she would fight tooth and nail to protect the Pridelands, which was the whole point.
Sliding down to sit, mimicking her friends position she cleared her throat. “It's going great, I love it. I get to train hard and achieve my goals, what more could I ask for?!” Taking a deep breath the lioness narrowly avoided chattering away for days about how happy she was to be doing what she was doing- but that was a given. “How is the family, any of them thinking about following in their mother's pawprints?”
“Ah they're good, growin' fast, too fast it seems.. Don't have any budding soliders yet I'm afraid, but maybe some day...” Alili looked a little sad and proud all within the same expression, but it quickly changed as her blue eyes flickered from her friend to her belly.
“I can't spar today 'm afraid.”
“Oh?” Nondo narrowed her eyes, a strange suspicion falling over her. “Why not?”
“'m gonna have another litter.” The striped lioness responded happily, knowing that whilst Nondo would probably be disappointed at another out of action solider, she would hopefully be happy for her too.
It took all of Nondo's self restraint not to call out “Again?!” in the presence of her friend, instead she channelled the genuine happiness she felt into a gentle nudge of the shoulder. “Congratulations! You are a brilliant mother.” She meant what she said, she had seen the family together and it was something special. She wasn't sure if she would ever experience the same thing herself, not for a while, her work came first. “I won't lie and say that I'm happy to lose another good solider for a few months, but this is what's important to you, and I'm happy for you.”
“Thanks Nondo.” Alili grinned and then stood up abruptly. “Wanna go get some food? Yer food is fuel!”
((WC:1141))
