|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 1:08 pm
Mawasii was not what you might call a natural mother, but as every day went by she was learning more and more about what was expected from her. She fed them, groomed them and put up with their antics with as much patience as she could muster and watched them grow in independence with each passing moment. She wasn't the type of mother who would 'hover' incessantly in case her precious children earned themselves a scrape or a bruise. Some might even have raised their eyebrows to see how she lounged in the shade and watched her cubs scamper, almost, out of sight. Still, if anyone thought they could lay a paw on any of her children they would have sorely regretted it.
Idly, one day, Mawasii decided quite casually that she'd kill anyone who so much as threatened her offspring.
They were reasonably large cubs, too, and putting on weight quickly. Soon they'd be fully weaned and beginning their journeys to become responsible pride members. She wondered, also, whether any would turn out like their mysterious father and how she would answer questions about him. She knew almost nothing about the lion except that he had attracted her attention from the get go. What it was about him she could not say. Perhaps she just loved the mystery, though puzzling over him sometimes drove her mad.
Still, mystery or not, she believed she had chosen well.
Glad for the setting sun, the dark feline picked herself up from the shade and struck out across the sands, turning ear hers back at the sound of little paws coming up behind her.
Would they all follow or just one or two? And if they did, could they keep up?
With a smile, she quickened her pace.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 1:19 pm
It had started off as a relatively normal day for the brown lion - he had parted ways (albeit briefly) from his companion, and in doing so he had entered a territory where she would most certainly not be welcome. The gazelle had in turn agreed to scout out another location, while he dealt with this one, though why he had been sent back here was anyone's guess. Hadn't Adar wandered through these parts once before, hadn't the Justicar's own son wandered through here before...?
...Ah, but perhaps it was that.
Tethys had established himself as a little bit of a ladies man in recent expeditions and it seemed that his own father might have had concerns that locations needed to be visited just in case. At least this was what Havase had assumed it was about until he had caught sight of the trail of cubs in the distance. One after the other they seemed to putter after the black lioness and at first he thought nothing of it. After all, lionesses did have cubs, no big deal, right?
Except for the glaringly obvious point that two of them seemed have markings that bore a striking familiarity to those he genuinely did not expect to see copies of.
It was with a raised brow that the large lion slipped after the family, an otherwise silent pursuit as he gained a better look at the cubs in question. The petite black cubs weren't of immediate concern, in all honesty they bore great similarity to their mother...but those pale ones. It didn't seem entirely possible and yet here he was, observing tiny tots with banded tails and what seemed to be jagged teeth, if they had been as dark as their siblings then they would have born a striking resemblance to someone most unexpected.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 1:39 pm
  Mawasii peered back over a shoulder to see all four cubs following after and offered them a wide grin of encouragement. "Easier to move when the sun is low," she called, not seeming to care how her voice carried. As far as she was aware there were no herds nearby to spook and a hunting party had already returned only yesterday.
The female kept her pace up for a moment - only slowing when the gap began increasing between her and her offspring - and then, without warning, she turned and pounced with a wild laugh - intent on scattering them.
A pale grey cub with red eyes shrieked in terrified delight and almost ran into her brother as she tried to escape her mother's paws. The dark male - also with the dark eyes of his unknown father - gave his sister a shove before realising what was going on.
His tail was trapped beneath his mother's paw and he flailed for a moment to free himself, clawing at the sand in a momentary panic before finding his freedom.
It was only when Mawasii looked up that she noticed the male closing in on them. Curious. Was he a member? With those markings he certainly could be and she'd not spent much time mingling as of late. Opting on a neutral pose she ruffled a paw across the head of another cub and glanced over them all, both proud and protective.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 1:56 pm
Their mother's impishness had the desired domino affect as both the cubs 'trailing' their siblings squealed and sought to scatter. Alas, even as they attempted to do so, it seemed both sisters found themselves running headfirst into the large lion's legs.
It was with surprised gaps that they both looked up, a pair of blue eyes and a pair of red eyes, settling on his. Silence followed, a seeming moment in which all parties involved seemed to assess one another. Was he a risk to the two cubs, should they be afraid of him? Or was Havase an ally of some description? They certainly didn't recognise him, but when he did nothing they soon grew bored and as cubs were wont to do, it wasn't long before they had scrambled and darted of.
They managed to properly fan out at this point, and he glanced briefly over each shoulder as they darted away. Another pause followed and then it was with a measured gaze that he returned Mawasii's curious glance, raising a brow in the process.
Fortunately, he had one striking difference when compared to Adar's personality, he was much more capable of conversation.
"Morning."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 2:25 pm
If Mawasii had been tense at his arrival she had hidden it well. Sometimes she believed if you looked like you expected trouble you might get just that. Thankfully two of her cubs scattered from the male's shadow without incident and his greeting had her feeling a little more at ease. If her brother found out she was here alone with her cubs, though, he'd give her no end of trouble!! Hopefully this wasn't a meeting he'd have to find out about...
"Don't think we've had the pleasure...?" she trailed, eyeing him again and deciding that, no, she didn't remember him. "If you're a new member, then welcome. If not, then...hello! I've been...distracted, as of late. The name's Mawasii."
Her children were well and truly scattered now, though it seemed her son was chasing after his twin whilst looking around him for the others. Maybe he thought it his job to keep his sisters under control. Heh. Good luck with that, she thought. If she had any say in it, her daughter's would be fierce and wild. After all, if their father did show up she wanted to make sure that he would be proud of them - especially since his opinion of her abilities had been so low! She was determined to show him - to prove him wrong.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 2:35 pm
"You don't say..." Havase murmured as he glanced back towards the squealing cubs. He wished the only boy the best, the odds were stacked against him and if he truly possessed the ability to herd his siblings then he was worthy of true respect. Havase was a bit more realistic in his expectations though and he could only assume that the poor boy was doomed to failure.
"I can't say I'm a new member, no," he added and returned his attention to the lioness. "I actually already have a home," he continued and shook his head. "My name is Havase," he paused as if to glance at the children again, his eyes fixing predominantly on the two palest cubs.
"Their father must be proud," he said finally and flicked his gaze back to Mawasii. "Energetic, good lungs, they must come from good stock," he mused and hazarded a smile.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 1:41 pm
"Just passing through? Fair enough, I don't think you'll find too much trouble out this way." She probably shouldn't have said as much but she was too friendly for her own good sometimes - and also seemed to pretend that the Nergui weren't as cruel as they had the tendency to be. She'd joined up for vengeance but that flame had faded with time. Faded when she realised there were more important things to life than living it with hate.
"Ah, well, I'd like to say he'd be proud but...honestly? I am not so sure. He seemed to have pretty high standards - as in, impossibly high standards, but eh, you never know. They'll be strong and fierce, at least. If they take after him in stature, too, they won't go far wrong." She smiled fondly at her children and then glanced back at Havase, "is your pride a neighbour of ours?" The question brought a sense of trepidation. Neighbours of the Nergui tended to be distant ones or enemies eventually. Maybe he had travelled far. Maybe he was a spy and she was giving him vital intel. Did she care? Not overly so - as long as her and her family were safe.
"Hey, what have I told you!? If you fall from there it's gonna hurt real bad!"
One of her pale cubs had started to climb a very precarious looking pillar of rock and was already high enough that a fall could cause an injury. Still, if Mawasii was going to hurry over to rescue said cub, she was taking her time about it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 2:02 pm
"He sounds like quite the ray of sunshine," Havase replied smoothly and shook his head. "Perhaps you should try asking him?" he hazarded. He knew from experience that there were several lions in his immediate circle of friends who struggled to compliment anything. To receive a compliment from them you generally needed to ask for their opinion on something, directly at that...
Nevertheless, he found himself momentarily distracted by one of the paler cubs already scaling the summit of a particular obstacle. Young they might have been, but they were most assuredly capable. Still, the longer he looked at her, the more he couldn't help but feel like she was familiar. It was a nagging feeling, one that simply wouldn't leave him be, and yet he couldn't quite put his paw on it just yet.
"Ah," he soon turned his attention back towards Mawasii and shook his head, lifting his paws one after the other in rabid succession as two of the cubs dived underneath him and darted off in another direction. Both young lionesses on this occasion, but that seemed to be irrelevant when he took scope of all the cubs present.
They were live wires.
"No my home is a considerable distance from here," he replied. "Very few know of it, I would be lying if I said we did not prefer to keep it that way at this moment in time," he added. "But I have been enjoying the sights that are on offer out here," he continued reassuringly. "Though I can't say that endless sand is my most favoured destination at the moment."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 4:47 am
Mawasii laughed at that. The dark male had been something else, that was for sure. Sometimes she wondered what the hell she had been thinking, partnering with someone like him for offspring. And then she remembered how he had drawn her eye - even though he had no real reason to. "I would if I could," she replied, "but he was an outsider. Truth be told, it's why I come to this stretch of land more often than I should. Part of me hopes we'll cross paths again but I very much doubt that will happen. He had an air of self-importance about him. He's probably miles away by now." She considered a moment, then added: "or maybe he thinks I'll try to seduce him, again!" She laughed, amused, but knowing that she probably would have.
She paused, blinking as the other two girls darted by again and felt her mouth curl with amusement. A few seconds later and her son followed after - clearly beginning to run out of steam as the gap between him and his sisters seemed to ever be increasing.
"Some days I think it's better for a pride to keep to itself. Life is simpler that way and it helps avoid trouble." Well, for the most part. "Endless sand is...not a particular fondness of mine." She hoped this would not be the Nergui's 'forever' home. "Still, we do what we must for our prides, hm? Even if they don't always do what is right."
The climbing cub slipped a little and took pause, turning her head to gaze across for her mother. Mawasii, however, did not move to help.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 4:55 am
It was Havase who aided the smaller cub, though not by traditional means of letting her jump on to her back. Instead he simply raised himself on to his hindlegs and swept her up into his paw for closer inspection. She was petite in comparison to him, and probably didn't appreciate him holding her close to his nose, but he felt compelled to inspect these cubs more than usual.
Oh, he knew it was wholly inappropriate, but when needs must.
In fact, it was a decision that seemed to pay off for him as he took note of the very recognisable markings and the young cub's eyes. Had she been black, she would have been a spitting image of someone he knew, someone he was almost certain was celibate and didn't have an affectionate bone in his body... At least not affectionate enough to be having a simple tryst with an unknown lady...although by the sounds of it, it seemed she had pursued their father rather than the other way round.
"If you don't mind me asking," he said finally, carefully depositing the cub onto the ground and returning his gaze to Mawasii. "What'd he look like?" he asked with a raised brow, then paused briefly. "And what'd he smell like?" he added. It might have seemed like a really bizarre question to follow up with, but Havase had his reasons; anyone who knew Adar would have understood that reason as well!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 5:45 am
If Mawasii was offended by his aid, it did not show. She watched, curious to see how her pale daughter would react.
The cub stared back at the male for a moment, unblinking, and then - after a few seconds - decided that chasing after her brother and sisters would be much more fun than this. With a small squeak of displeasure she started to wriggle just before she was lowered onto the ground. The moment her paws touched down, she was off again, tearing after her sisters and intent on shoving her brother aside along the way.
Mawasii's eyes lit with interest at the male's line of questioning. "Mostly black, red eyes, fang-like markings..." she trailed, eyes widening at the second part of the question, "he smelled awful. I've never come across anything like it before. The scent got stuck in my nose for days, no word of a lie!" She eyed Havase a moment and then said, "if I didn't know better, I'd say you know him!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 5:59 am
Literally no one was going to believe Havase when he brought this up, even now the lion knew this as he listened to Mawasii's description, which was honestly just an affirmation of what he had already assumed. The child had markings that were too similar to the male to be a coincidence and now he'd had it confirmed...
"It's sulfur," he pointed out and shook his head. "It comes from deep underground, usually in warrens," he added and raised a brow as he watched the trio of girls cause havoc. He almost felt sorry for the flagging boy, but perhaps he'd find endurance later in life. He paused for a while, simply to watch them, and found himself rather relieved to find that not a single one was at risk, they were all, quite simply, the wrong colour.
"He's Al-Siq," he said finally and cleared his throat. "And his name is Adar-malik, to put a name to a face," he offered helpfully. "And to confirm, he is an absolute thundercloud when it comes to demeanour, world's best conversationalist," he continued in a sarcastic drawl. He knew that his friend could have a sense of humour around those he was truly comfortable with, but around anyone else?
...Well, good luck with that.
"Ten out of ten, would invite him to ever dinner party again," he finished with a smile. "His markings are somewhat unique out here, and they have his eyes," he explained. "Apologies for prying but the entire event is really quite extraordinary if I'm entirely honest."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 6:14 am
Underground? Somehow she didn't think he was talking about a shallow den but the idea of being underground seemed off and...maybe even a little unnerving. Heck, she found the strange 'temple' structures in their new land a little off-putting and didn't like lingering in their shadow much. They had the air of death about them and it wasn't like her to be wary of something like that. She was the bold one who tended to leap without thinking!
"Don't worry about it, I'd ask the same if I were in your paws. It's nice to have his name, though I'm sure he won't thank you for it! I like to think his bad demeanour worked in my favour. After all, if he was more of a gentleman, he'd likely be settled down with a lovely mate by now, right?" She laughed, rubbing a paw down across her whiskers. "Apparently I have a weakness for the bad boys - much to my brother's dismay. He looked like he wanted to throttle me when he found out!"
She blinked, "has he not...done things like this before?" Part of her would not be surprised by this and yet at the same time, she thought that there had to be other ladies willing to chase him down.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 6:30 am
"He has not, no," he confirmed. "Generally speaking his work keeps him busy," he replied with a wry smile. He could only imagine what Mawasii might have done to have Adar concede, evidently she was a force of nature in some form and not to be underestimated, though he was certainly going to have to pick Adar's brain to find out precisely what he had been thinking.
"As for being a gentleman," he shook his head. "Fortune does not favour those of you who have such dark fur in the Al-Siq," he replied gently. "Though you are in luck in the sense your fur is broken up by a fair amount of white, the same cannot be said for one such as him," he hadn't set out to reassure the lioness that she might very well be the only one he had acknowledged but that seemed to have been what he had managed to achieve.
"Or perhaps I should more accurately say that 'black' is not fortuitous, darker fur of other colours would not suffer the same fate," he clarified. Afterall, he was 'dark' by definition, but by no means frowned upon.
"So take what you will from that, but Adar is traditionally celibate."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 7:04 am
She listened to him speak of his home. How odd that black pelts were not favoured by their kind. Dark pelts could be useful and they looked rather handsome when well cared for. "Then he has had a hard time of it. Being judged by how you look when there is nothing you can do about it...that's a harsh reality to live in." And that was likely an understatement.
"But who am I to judge a pride on its beliefs, whether right or wrong? My kin have done unspeakable things and yet, here I am still with them."
She smiled a little at his last statement, "ahhh, maybe he did like me a little bit, after all, hm? Ha, a girl can dream!" She suddenly looked thoughtful, "perhaps, if by chance you see him again any time soon, tell him we're all faring well. The cubs are wild and nameless, at the moment. A Nergui tradition is to sometimes name a son after his father but that wasn't really possible before now. And how could I name the girls and not the boy?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
