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 Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:50 pm
That morning when Kizuka came into the cave her steps were lighter than they'd been before. She'd not mentioned much to Momo about what had been going on, only asking her to watch out for Kimaji during the day when Kizuka had been gone. Even then, that job mostly fell to the hawk Varg that acted as a grandfatherly figure towards the lot of them.. well, fatherly in the case of Ushaufu, but that was all semantics. Either way, she'd not returned the night before and now seemed all the happier for it.
Indeed, she was happy. Ushaufu had returned to Umande'mfuni, but more importantly he had returned to her not as a friend but as a mate. The joy sung in her heart was such as she hadn't felt since the day her cub had been born, though it was quite a different version of that feeling. This caused her weary, haggard appearance to glow with the beauty she once had been, and might yet be again where the rains to grace their land quickly enough.
Kimaji didn't seem to be around this morning, and a light whisper of thought spoke of a hope that the girl didn't think herself abandoned as her father had done previously. Kizuka thought Kimaji had more sense than that, though, and thus did not seek her out immediatly. Ushaufu had asked her to return ahead of him as he came bearing gifts of food that would slow any lion down, no matter size or strength. Or Godhood, she added with a wry sort of thought.
It was in this carefree sort of demeanor that she let herself fall upon the dusty floor of their home and give a contented sigh as she waited for any other nearby to acknowledge her.
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:17 pm
Mo'onasi had been keeping herself busy, trying to not let her mind wander. Though it had been a bit of a time since Kizuka had found her and taken her in under her wing, Momo's mind would still flutter about the world outside of the jungle where she now lived. She hadn't left since she was brought here, and in her heart, she didn't have the courage to step out of these boundaries of saftey that she felt all around here.
So instead, she would keep herself busy with little things here and there, keeping track of how the water supply was doing, making sure that the den was clean, even the areas around it. She was still thin, though her stomache area was bothering her a bit. It hadn't quite swelled, but it did seem a bit pudgy to her. The lioness didn't think much about it, more interested in keeping herself healthy enough to be as much help as she could be.
The striped lioness' ears perked up as she heard the return of a soul, and peeked over to see Kizuka sprawled out onto the floor of the cave. Well, at least she came home safe! the lioness thought to herself. She never worried too much about her friend, but sometime's Momo's imagination could get the best of her, and it had poked at her last night.
"Aaah, Kizuka!" She stated brightly, her tail bobbing behind her as she stepped closer to her companion. "It is good to see you this morning. Kimaji slipped out before I woke up, but I'm sure she'll return soon. How are you doing?" Momo's bright heart pushed away the bits of fear that had clung to her last night, instead focusing on her friend in front of her, and the obvious signs that she was fine, if perhaps tired.
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:48 pm
"Much better than before, actually," The Lioness greeted her friend with a smile. 'Friend' was it now? Perhaps that was a good term, though they hadn't known one another long. Momo certainly made herself useful, and seemed to get along in the place just fine. Kizuka's only real worries were how well ushaufu would take to her... and what Masika would say or think. It was fairly obvious the striped lioness wouldn't do well if put out in the desert alone, however, and thus she thought Masika would see the wisdom in keeping her...
The renewed sight of Mo'onasi's stomach tugged at something in her mind, but she shoved it off as she had since she'd first taken a good look at Momo. Once more she wrote the slight pudge off as a sign of malnutrition and vowed to do more to help the lioness out, when she could. "I apologize for being so late.. but luckily the reason I was out has returned to us."
Aware she hadn't told Momo much about it, the lioness lifted her head and shoulder, stretching a little, as she settled into a comfortable position for a chat. "Thank you for watching over Kimaji while I was out. Did the night pass well?" There was always that vague worry that something may have attacked them in the night, or a mistweaver that didn't know of them might take offense to their presence.
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:05 pm
The striped lioness nodded carefully as Kizuka spoke to her, watching her body language silently before taking up her own spot in the cave, curling up on the ground to better settle herself for a little chat, if one did appear. Otherwise she might just relax for a while, before poking her nose out for Kimaji again.
Her head cocked sideways as she listened to the tease of why Kizuka had been out all night long. She wasn't sure what to make of it, but didn't want to carry it out, either. So instead she politely nodded, and picked up where Kizuka left off. Chatting-wise, anyway. "Well, nothing out of the ordinary. Thank goodness. It took a while for us to finally sleep, but uneventful." She didn't want to elaborate on things that didn't mean much, like the two of them not able to sleep too early because she had been gone, but it was something that didn't quite need to be brought up. Besides, Kizuka was back, fine, so no need to worry about silly things in the past.
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:26 pm
There was a brief pause of wonder as to why they had a time of it, but the evidence was rather obvious. Kizuka brushed it aside as Mo'onasai didn't seem inclined to elaborate, but tipped her head with a slightly sheepish smile across her maw. "I think I've mentioned the friend I had that I was looking for, if not I apologize. Ushaufu has returned, however... he should be about in just a little while, actually."
There was a pause as she looked out the entrance of the cave. "We're not certain when, exactly, but in a few days time we plan on heading further into the jungle. This was just a temporary camp, after all... There we're going to meet up with the remains of my old pride...." She paused, waiting to see what Momo might think of this so far. It might be that the other lioness would think of complications surrounding it that she hadn't already.
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:52 pm
The lioness' ears perked forward as Kizuka spoke to her, absorbing what was said to her. Ushaufu? She faintly remembered him mentioned before, but she had never heard of him, nor seen him, obviously, so she was a bit apprehensive about that. She did her best to hide her nerves, though. She would sometimes become nervous with new meetings, but it would be rude to make a fuss about it, and instead nodded briskly. "Yes, I do faintly remember. That would be lovely." Her tail brushed up against her side as she spoke, something to help comfort her, unconsciencely.
"Move...further in?" Her spirit fell a bit at that, as she had frown fond of the tree patterns and small cave that they were living in. She knew that things changed and they perhaps would have to move sometime, but she didn't expect so suddenly. "Alright...." she whispered softly, letting her mind muddle in her thoughts. Well, if there were others in this pride of Kizuka's, it would be much safer to be in a group then the few of them by themselves. "I understand." She peered back up at Kizuka, letting her mind cheer her up again. Hopefully it wouldn't be too far, but she would do her best to keep up with the little family that she tagged along with.
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 4:30 pm
The signs of Mo'onasai's sudden discomfort weren't very hard to read, but it couldn't be certain if it was the talk of the "wayward son," as it were, or the move that did it. The easiest way was to ask, but Kizuka hadn't a clue why on earth a new person about would bother her so much. "It'll be safer further in," Kizuka explained, "We're rather easy pickings.... should anything happen here."
The splotched lioness shifted a touch uneasily at her own words. 'Should another invasion come.' She hated thinking such things, but the worry had once more sprung to mind. The rekindled thought of the mate she had on his way to her was enough to temper too much worry from her frame, and yet she knew that she still could not rest easily. Despite no happenings thus far, living this close to the borders still wasn't a good idea... especially without the mists to hide them. Sure, they hadn't done much good the first time, but....
She shoved despair away with a cold paw. Being cautious was one thing, being paranoid was another. "I won't lie to you, Mo'mo, these lands have had... very uneasy times these past few years. We seem to be fairly safe here, thus far, but.. appearances sometimes decieve." kizuka fought back an ironic chuckle at her words. "as much as i love the little home we've carved out here on the borderlands, for now the group would be a much better spot for us.... should we be accepted within the fold."
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Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 9:22 am
Momo's stripes tail flopped away from her side to dangle behind her, the tip just shy of brushing the dusty ground of the cave that was their temporary home. Her ears perked up as Kizuka brought up the fact that they were more exposed out in the open like this, and not in the heart of the lands. That was a very true fact, and it weighed heavily on her heart. She didn't want anything more to happen, and she especially hoped that 'he' wouldn't search out for her again. She didn't want to risk any harm towards Kizuka, her friend, or her child just because Momo was living with them. She shook the thought from her mind; it would be something to perhaps think about at another time, if it even came up.
She was a bit nervous, still, as to if they would be accepted with open arms or not, but she put faith into Kizuka that it would work alright. It might not be right for the striped lioness to continue putting faith into those around her, but it was a habit, and habits were hard to break. "I am sure they would accept us, right? We don't seem very threatening....at least, I hope not." A small smile cracked from her face, as she still wasn't up to full health, but doing much better then when the brown spotted lioness had found her.
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 1:09 pm
Kizuka chuckled, "No I don't think we do." Of course, with Ushaufu in tow they might. He was huge, especially by the usual standard of Umande'mfuni males, but his strength could easily be brought forward as an asset for accepting their lot. After meeting Masika, Kizuka thought the female was used enough to the thought that their pride was NOT untouchable that she would see Ushaufu's strengths in such a fashion, rather than as a threat. It was hard for the tribe to accept those who had no true ties to the pride... but as her mate, he had a tie, did he not? Still, Kizuka's own membership was also up for question.
Why did she keep dwelling upon this? Kizuka nearly laughed at herself, but decided against such an action in the final moments. Instead she gave the lightest cough, which turned into a true hack. She wasn't sick, but the lack of water was weighing heavily on her system. When the fit had passed, she continued, "I believe they will accept us. We bring strong members to them, and we can feed ourselves--and have been for a good time. Beyond that, I believe the pride is still small and will need its members when the rains and herds do return."
It was a slight reassurance, but Kizuka sounded as sure as she ever did. Her tail twitched lightly behind her, and the tenseness of her muscles showed easily through her skin, however, belying that she wasn't entirely certain she believed her own words. She glanced to the female beside them. She wouldn't admit it, but she had been worried that Momo's illness may not have been simple starvation but something far greater. Kizuka still hadn't forgotten the death ridden days before the red plague--the days in which the true plague had taken her parents and siblings from her.
Momo didn't seem to be sick, however. At least, not sick in that sort of sense. Kizuka was well aware of the weakness that Momo carried within her, and the amount of time the lioness spent sleeping. For some reason there was something about Momo's state that was nagging at Kizuka's mind. While she had logically ruled out a return of the plague it didn't stop the fear that it could be something similar that she was helping bring back to her pride.
"How have you been faring these past days?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 1:35 pm
The lioness was unsure as to why Kizuka suddenly brought up her health. Was she acting strangely? Momo normally had never spent too much time around others, and didn't normally know how she acted around them. That normally only lead to embarassing situations, but nothing serious. It concerned her that Kizuka brought it up, but she didn't want to act paranoid. Maybe it was nothing?
"Well," she started slowly, letting her mind claw at what she had been up to lately. What had she been doing? "I have been really tired lately, and can never seem to get comfortable when I try to sleep, well, at first. That's probably just the tough ground, though. And hungry, but which one of us hasn't been hungry?" She didn't think much of it, and they seemed common enough to her, but Momo probably didn't count on the degree of how much more time she was spending eating, or that she was just a bit hungrier then she used to be. She assumed it was just recovering from her incident, one that she still hadn't talked too much about, and it would go away soon enough. Even though enough time had passed that Momo should be doing better already...
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 1:46 pm
Kizuka's frown deepened, though she wasn't as yet certain why. She turned her gaze away, to try and mask that something was bothering her. Kizuka's honesty was her downfall, however, for her concern was open for anyone to read. Tail lashing behind her, the female gave a light shrug of her boney shoulders. "You had an ordeal out in the desert, I... was concerned that you might be having a harder time of it."
Yet that wasn't it at all and lying left a worst taste in her mouth than did the lack of water and bile of starvation. She turned once more to gaze at the female beside her, truly taking in her entire body. She seemed normal enough, save the malnutrition belly that was beginning to show. A second later Kizuka's eyes focused on the belly once more as that gnat at the back of her mind buzzed more heavily.
She had seen animals starve to death before. She had seen the stages of malnutrition, and indeed, was now living them herself. That belly was coming out of order. Without explaining herself, she reached out and pressed a paw to the firmness of Momo's belly. Firmness?
The paw was withdrawn as quickly as she had extended it and Kizuka straightened her shoulders, neck arched to attention as her world focused on the other female beside her. Things in the back of her mind were clicking around now, adding in facts to conclusions that whispered a strange language in her ear. It didn't yet make sense, but it wouldn't be too long before she figured out the story of the disoriented lioness lost in the desert.
No, she corrected herself, the disoriented pregnant lioness lost in the desert. "How long has it been since you laid with him?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 2:00 pm
Momo's eears perked up as Kizuka spoke, wondering just what her words meant. Was she doing worse then she felt? She didn't feel completely better, or the same that she had been afterwards, but she didn't think she was doing that badly. Her head flopped to the side as she watched Kizuka's face curiously, wondering what was going through the pretty lioness' head.
"Is...something wrong?" she questioned quietly, and only a moment before the lionedd tapped her stomache. What was...that? The striped lioness began to worry as the antics of her friend puzzled her. With her tail wrapped around her side, she nervously continued to watch Kizuka, meekly keeping her worries to herself at the moment.
Silence seemed to fall, and it ate at Momo. She opened her mouth to speak, to break the silence, when Kizuka asked her the most awkward question Momo had ever recieved.
"What?" It wasn't accusing, or very loud, but more like disbeleif coming out of her mouth. "Him? Who? What?" The lioness' mind didn't comprehend exactly what she was implying, for the shock of the question filled her mind.
A flurry of words flew out of her mouth as she tried to make sense of what was fluttering through her mind, but she couldn't get a grasp on any of it. "I haven't done anything, no, I was just, wait...I don't believe it. Do you think? Oh gods..." A small seed started to sprout in her mind, and she was just starting to get it. To get what might be happening to her. Inside of her.
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 2:19 pm
Kizuka wondered if she'd been to abrupt. It was likely that she had, but it had to be said, apparently. The female watched as Momo gradiated from embarrassed, to confused, to realization and felt a pang of understanding go out once more to the striped lioness. Her own pregnancy hadn't been a planned one, after all, and thus Kizuka thought she understood what the other lioness was feeling. Silently, Kizuka rethought her conclusion as a double-checking method. They wouldn't know for certain for a few weeks yet, but all the signs were pointing there. A malnutrition belly acted as fat did, not firm as if it were hiding something. ... or protecting it.
"I do think," She confirmed with a nod of her head. Her paw extended again, toes grazing Momo's side in a comforting gesture. "We're all hungry, true, but the signs point to it. At least, from the eyes of one who already is a mother." She tried to make her voice gentle, for Momo's sake, but its ruined tones didn't make that easy. Yet, Kizuka hoped she had succeeded for the news was certainly not welcome to either of them. For Momo it seemed to be a nightmare come true, judging by the expression on her face, and for Kizuka... she could see the complications spreading from this moment, especially for the children... should they live.
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 2:52 pm
Momo clawed at the ground in frustration, and also a way to try and distract herself. Her mind kept wanting to bring up memories of that event, and she never wanted to remember them. She had hoped that nothing happened when she blacked out, and that there would be no scars left to drag her back to that moment. But it was now obvious that she could never escape it, even if she deeply wanted too.
"So...yes?" She pleaded to Kizuka, wanting the truth, yet not at the same time. The soom grew wet, though tears did not fall. Momo quickly blinked them back before they could fall. She didn't want to sink back into that black feeling. She needed to keep herself grounded, and as strong as she could be. It wouldn't be fair to Kizuka to fall back to where she had been when she had found the striped lioness.
"Oh gods..." she whispered, looking away shamefully. She didn't know what to say, or what to think, but she didn't think it would be fair to keep the lioness in the dark anymore, either. She gathered her wits up together, her body tensed up from her nerves bouncing all over the place. "Kizuka, I....I think you should know what happened. Well, all that I can remember. It isn't much but..." her words drifted off as she stared at the ground, feeling empty hearted and scared for the future.
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 4:17 pm
The sense of wrongness grew with ever gesture of Momo's body. This was more than just unexpected news, and more and more the evidence rankled up to back up that conclusion. The splotched lioness moved closer to her friend and... ward, of sorts, for the comfort it might offer her, and watched as a sadness grew over Momo's form that Kizuka doubted anyone could shake.
The words seemed to confirm this. While she was curious, Kizuka doubted she really had a right to Momo's story. Still, the other lioness seemed to want to share it, and sometimes speaking of things that haunted you could help to heal them. She leaned in to offer a lick to Momo's neck, as she would have her daughter's when Kimaji was troubled, and gave her the concession of a polite, listening silence.
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