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 Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:32 am
((Note!: There won't be a specific posting order, so there's no pressure to remember when to come back and post, nor any need for anyone to wait to post. We're going to just go with the flow for this RP since once the story starts, if anyone falls behind it'll be easy later on to just include all responses in one large post.))
It was time, finally. Tai was just a little bit nervous, wondering about the size of the audience she'd have today and if the children were going to like the story that she had to offer or not, and more so wondering what any parents sitting in might think. Of course, she'd run the tale by Ausi'juu and her brother, Daimyn, and they seemed to think she was just being overly anxious.
The lioness' paws carried her easily as she made her rounds now, gathering what cubs she found on her way and heading back towards the bathing area around the back.
She settled on her haunches atop one of the many sunning rocks on the back of the pride's greatest monument, reviewing the story briefly that she intended to tell. It was one that was very near to her heart, as it had been the very first story that her mother told she and her siblings. It had been very difficult to recall all the details at first after they had been buried under months, years of other memories, but the details came back to her one by one. She hadn't shared this story yet-- not even with her own sons and daughter, she did hope they'd enjoy it as much as she once had.
Once Tai was finally satisfied with everything, from the amount of space the cubs would have to the areas where the other babysitters would be able to keep watch, to the order of events and introduction of her fable, only then did the pale lioness relax and lift her head to call for any others that might be about.
The roar was a gentle one, not demanding or aggressive like the others, but one of summons, carrying much more voice than growl.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 2:56 am
Kiasiadia was so excited.
Each step she took was full of anticipation, a broad grin on her lips. A story, and told by her favourite nanny nonetheless! She had only been around Tai a bit, when both of her parents were busy, but she loved the kind lioness. Of course, it wasn't in her nature to dislike anyone, but she had a special fondness for Tai.
Her striped tail swished back and forth as she approached the smooth, rocky area where the storyteller sat. Kiasi's blue eyes shone as she scurried towards her, showing her teeth in a smile.
Kitengele struggled to keep up with her daughter, trying to keep her footing as they climbed up to the flat surface where the story would be told. She, too, was eager to hear what Tai had in store, but her energy had been drained recently, trying to take care of six growing cubs.
"Hello," she called out to the storyteller with her last trace of breath. Unable to say anything else, she smiled sheepishly as she panted, curling her tail around her daughter.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 6:11 am
The roar seemed to call to the copper princess like nothing else she had heard that day. The cub lifted her head from where she had been napping, and slowly rose as she tried to banish the sleep from her scarlet eyes. For a moment, she tried to remember what might be happening - and then it came. Of course! It was time for a story. It was quite a big deal, she had figured, and she had never heard Tai tell a story before. She trotted toward the sound of the roar, eager to become a part of the audience.
Soon enough, the storyteller came into view, and Mzuza could also see another cub - one that she had seen around, but had never met. She was older than Mzuza herself, but not by a lot. The copper cub trotted up to the older cub. "Hello!" She greeted the other brightly.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:26 am
 Her youngest son was just starting to stir, having been napping in the shade of one of the rocks while waiting for his mother to begin this story for the day, but as she called out for the others he roused. Stretching out growing paws, tongue rolling out with a scratchy yowl as each muscle awoke. Today he'd get to see some of the many playmates that had, so far, come and go as the parents around Pride Rock left their children in his mother and second cousin's, and all the other nannies care. He was excited too, because this meant he might get to make some more new friends yet, AND--
Mom said that she had a NEW story, just for today, how could he forget that? She wouldn't even give him a hint, but she promised it had been one of her favorites as a cub.
He took a seat just a bit to the side of Tai, looking up at her with a proud smile, before turning that proud smile towards the familiar face of Kiasi--
"Kia!" Ayato cried, having used the nickname for her all along in his mind, even if never out loud. It didn't even occur to him that the girl might mind. He JUMPED to his paws, ready to greet the cub with a playful nudge while they waited for the others to arrive.
"Hello Kiasiadia, it's good to see you again." The mother purred deeply at the energetic youth, and spotted one of the many princesses on the approach. It was doubtful if there were many, if any, cubs in the pridelands that Tai didn't already know by name. She adored her job, and so took earnest in memorizing all of the children and parents that she could. That way, even if they met officially for the first time she could make each child feel special and welcomed by already knowing just who they were. Mzuza recieved the same warm smile and the same purr. "And good morning, Mzuza. I'm glad you're joining us today too."
With that, the former huntress shifted her attention to the parent who had approached, letting the cubs talk.
"Kitengele," Tai smiled warmly, chuckling softly, sympathetic of the lioness' weariness. "you look as if you've been trying to keep track of a herd of baby gazelle!" She teased lightly, knowing fully welll how much of a handful a full litter could be. She'd had the pleasure of raising five, even six for a short time while Tete had been with them.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:28 am
Safuma's scarlet eyes snapped open wider when she heard the roar. She had been in mid-stalk of a small rodent not far from the den site when the gentle, calling roar filled the air and drew her rapt attention toward it. What was it? What was going on? Furrowing her brow, the little cub started at a slow trot toward home, having trouble recalling why she was being called. She had recognized the roar, but not the meaning behind it. It was Tai, the storyteller.
When she recognized that it had been Tai, Safu smiled and let her eyes glance at her shadow to observe the position of the sun. It was storytime, of course. How could she have been so forgetful? Increasing her trot to a full-fledged scramble up the rockface and toward the bathing grounds at the back, she slid to a stop a short distance away. Pouncing on Mzuza could wait until she caught her breath, and Safu let her little body collaspe on the warmed rock while her lungs tried to bring everything back to a peaceful order.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:02 am
Mzuza grinned her trademark grin up at Tai. "Good morning, Tai!" She said cheerfully. Ah, the morning sun never failed to put a smile on the copper cub's face. Out of the corner of her ever-watchful gaze, the little cub spotted Safuma, although Mzuza's golden sister was not quite close enough to her vision to be clearly identified. And of course that was where the magic came in hand. The copper cub always felt a burst of pride within herself every time she did something she deemed had to do with magic.
Knowing Safuma might want to pounce, the copper cub purposefully moved so that Kiasiadia was between herself and her sister. She grinned up at the older lion. She knew just how to truly define the 'grinning from ear to ear'.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:17 am
 Lio had been sleeping on top of a rock when he heard the gentle roar. His ears flickered and he opened his eyes, blinking a few times. Who was that? He had never heard that roar before. He yawned and stretched, then leapt off the rock and looked around. He trotted towards the sound of the gathering group, seeing a few souls he already knew. He smiled as he padded over to Safuma. "Hi!" He said happily, looking up at the pretty white lioness before them. He had never seen most of these lions, and he became very bashful.
"What's going on?" He asked his new found friend, looking over at all the lions gathering around.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:31 am
Mzuza's ears flickered as she caught the sound of a newly-familiar voice. Kialio! She would have known his voice anywhere, mostly because it was one she would forever associate with the blueness that was his coat. Her head turned as she bounded over happily. "Hey, you!" She grinned at him and Saf. "Look, Tai is going to tell us all a story!" She said eagerly as she moved behind the two of them and proceeded to try to herd them forward, pushing Safuma's rump with her forehead. "Let's go!"
((She just had to go over xD I'm posting too much xDD))
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:35 am
((xDD!))
Lio blinked as Mzuza bounded over and proceeded to push them towards the lioness. He giggled and nodded happily. "I love stories!" He said, remembering the stories he told Safu about the stars. He looked over at the gathering crowd, and got a bit nervous again. He stayed close to his new friends as they went closer.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:04 am
Safuma's eyes darted toward Lio when he approached, standing though her mouth was still partially open in a soft pant. After a few moments, it passed and she was able to speak easily, "Hey, Lio! I think it's storytime, I just know someone called." Ears flicking at the sound of tiny claws on the rock face coming toward them, Safuma looked toward her sister as she bounded near them. Her smile broadened widely as Zu confirmed what Safu had said. The push at her rear made her tail tuck under for a moment before she took a few steps forward on her own, laughing, "Zu, you're silly." Padding forward, she took a seat as near Tai as they could get without having to strain to look up at her. She was careful to keep Lio near, noticing his sudden streak of bashfulness and acting accordingly so that he wasn't left uncomfortable.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:08 am
 -She was trying SO hard to stay awake! Fluttering eyelids attempting to pull the ivory lioness into slumber, she'd spent her early morning waiting, continually moving. She needed to be awake! Her aunt was telling a story today, and despite her very long night, Xu had been hellbent on hearing it.
When finally the call sounded Xu was ecstatic, and began her slow trek to follow it along and around the rocks. So many were there already! Mostly little ones, but still, she'd not expected so many. And as a wide yawn pulled apart her maw, she slowly tried to step around the many playful little ones, coming to settle near the edge of the group, sitting up tall as she awaited the story. What would it be about? Would she be able to stay up for the whole thing? She certainly hoped so.
Silently she willed it to begin faster, her eyes looked on the familar white figure.-  -Tongue pausing almost comically pertruded from her mouth, Sarakiva's ears twitched as the sound of call touched her. Was it time already? Taking one last glance at her paws, she nodded happily, making sure dust hadn't settled anywhere else.
While most cubs had spent the day playing, Sara had spent her morning primping. Making sure her creme and sand pelt shone like the sky, she'd begged a bath from her mother. Making sure to touch herself up now after her little trek for decoration.
The flowers she'd found were bright and large, they were perhaps a little too big for her, but she wore them like any young child proudly. Blooms strewn over each ear and at the tail. She would be beautiful. THe most beautiful there even she bet! Oh how they'd look at her!
Purring a little happily, she lifted herself from her perch at the top of priderock, before slowly she began to make her way down towards the bathing area, taking delicate and dainty steps incase anyone should see her.
And as the small group unfolded before her eyes, she couldnt help but grin. She spotted two of her sisters, and quite a few others as well. Good thing she had her flowers, so those bright blue and purple cubs would not steal her spotlight.
Prancing her way up past the others, she smiled pleasantly to the storyteller, asking lightly.- "Where is the best seat?" -She'd get it obviously.-
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:58 pm
Kialio noticed even more lions coming to hear the story, and as he watched he hoped he could talk with the pretty white lioness alone sometime. He would love to tell her his own stories and see if she liked them.
With that thought in mind, he turned his head toward the new arrivals. A pretty cub and adolescant were two he noticed right away, and he offered a smile in their general directions, knowing his manners and to be amiable. With a flick of his tail he looked back to the two sisters beside him, and grinned at them. "When do you think it'll start?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 3:45 pm
Mzuza stopped pushing and looked up huffily. "I'm not silly!" She protested, lowering her head to nudge at her sister's rump again just to prove a point. She followed after her sister and Lio and sat down next to them. "I don't know," She said, excitedly, answering her blue friend's question. "I hope it'll be soon though."
She looked up at the sight of a familiar tan figure as she waltzed in and promptly asked for the best seat. She had to smile - Sarakiva sure could turn on the charm when she wanted to! She poked at Safuma and Lio with her muzzle. "You know, I bet if we go over and just follow her, we'll get the second best seats," She joked.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 4:08 pm
Tai smiled as the cubs slowly gathered, one new face, three of the princesses (and my, but Sarakiva had gotten quite dressed for the ocassion, Tai couldn't help but chuckle.), her son, and her niece, as well as Kitengele. She was wondering... should she perhaps wait for a few more to arrive before beginning the tale, or start now? She supposed they could always hear what they missed from the others once the tale began...
When the familiar white and gold pelt arrived, Tai's smile grew in greeting. Of course, when she averted her attention to Sarakiva she kept the smile in place.
"Good morning, princess... The best seat, you ask? Hmmm...."
She lifted her eyes and head as she seemed as if she were truely giving it deep consideration, then lowered her blue gaze back to the younger female, a softer smile, secretive almost, in place.
"Personally, I've always favored being right in the middle of my brothers and sisters, first or second row..."
"Moooooom! Come on, start the story, I've been waiting forEVER!" Ayato grumbled eagerly, but Tai just looked amused and replied with "be patient until the others get here,".
He almost, ALMOST pouted before having his attention stolen.
Ayato paused as he listened to the buzz as more new arrivals came, purple eyes eager and excited on the juvenile. He grinned again, almost goofily from beside Kiasiadia, both excited and awed by the general fuss that a story from his mum could cause.
Of course, he and his siblings had always loved her stories, but it made him feel happy to know that others could enjoy them too.
He seated himself where they were, to one side of Kia, and waved a paw to the princesses and Lio.
"Come on over here, guys, we've got seats right up at the front! Mom, mom?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 4:26 pm
 His great Aunt Tai was telling stories. And that meant there were going to be a lot of little children running about. Which meant Jini needed to start his job. He had to admit, he was a little nervous. He had never watched so many kids before. Though there would be other adults around, including Tai herself, which was a relief. He made his way over to the group, his ears pinned back sheepishly and his green eyes wandering due to his shy nature. It didn't matter how old he was-he'd always be rather bashful. "I'm here to help, Aunt Tai." Vinaya finally found the story-telling crowd, looking a little winded as she stumbled over. She had decided, last minute, to follow her mother and sister to hear the tales. Which of course had her falling behind and then she got a little turned around. It was a good thing she made up for her shyness with her intellect, for she was able to figure out where everyone had gone rather quickly. And she slipped to sit down in the back quietly, pretty much out of site. She didn't really like attention, so this was probably ok.
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