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 Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 3:09 pm
 Noyana had done it again! She'd experienced the thrill of the chase, the wonderful feeling of resistance when her claws hit her prey, and the bite that finished it off quickly. She killed it in the same manner as she had her previous hare- a swift flick to the neck. Yes, it had all worked so well. Hares were becoming a regular meal on her daily trip.
She hoped, though, that this time, she wouldn't have to share her meal like she had last time. The yellow lioness laid out in the open savannah, in the short grass, beginning to eat her kill.
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Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 3:18 pm
 While Tufah was still young enough to be fed by her mother, she was already interested in the hares in the long grass. Practise made perfect and she stalked though the grass often...unsuccessful so far but she was but a cub yet. Fiercely and with a kind of cold joy, she lunged for a hare for the fifth time that morning and failed. But what did it matter? One day she'd be a hunteress, for now, it was only fun and training combined.
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Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 4:28 pm
The smell of another lion drifted across the savannah, but Noyana was oblivious to the smell as it was covered up by the smell of the rabbit. She watched the lands ahead of her, though, keeping attention to her surroundings, and anyone who might be violent to get her meal.
That's right, her meal. It was hers until the duty arose to give it up- until another hungry pridemember appeared. She thought of it already, and was already becoming another cog in the Pride.
Her attention was broken by another bounding hare. It raced desperately across the savannah, though it seemed relaxed in a way. She was getting good at reading the preybeasts, very skilled in her mind. And this one seemed to be relieved, as if it had just escaped. She expected a visitor- and a hungry one. Noyana turned her attention to the direction from which the creature had come- doubtless that someone would appear shortly after.
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Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 4:37 pm
The next hare would seem scared out of its wits as well as relieved. Tufah had learnt a trick from her last failure and had actually scored a hit on this one. Unfortunately, she'd only left a nasty set scratchs down it's back. Nothing effective. Just ainful and that caused the creature to run even faster.
She gave chase but stopped as she drew level with the yellow female and her meal, slowing to a graceful and purposeful walk. She too, was learning her place in the pride and had decided because of her family history, that she was of the better half of the pride. It only showed in her stance...Tufah sounded and looked otherwise friendly and the same as any other cub.
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Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 5:57 pm
Yes, just as expected, a young reddish female came over the horizon. She had no doubt been chasing the hare, and was probably fairly hungry.
There was something about her... Someone had said something about this litter. She racked her brain to remember who, but couldn't. Whoever it was had said not to trust a word any members of the litter said. Personally, she thought that that kind of mentality was mean. However, she'd heard tales of an old ancestor of the litter's- Taka, or Scar; apparently he was their grandfather. She knew the story, but only vaguely. That, and she'd only just heard descriptions of the cubs who she shouldn't trust.
Noyana, though, was beginning to think for herself, rather than do what she was told all the time. She'd give this cub a chance, against her mother's better judgement.
Besides, how bad can a cub be? If it was violent, there was no doubt in Noyana's mind that she could match it, if not beat it.
"Hoy, are you hungry?" She called. What better way to get to know someone than over food. Whatever happened, she was about to set the record straight. She would treat this cub with no prejudices, and ask questions that needed to be asked, AND be honest. She was always honest when she wanted the truth.
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Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 12:33 pm
"Hello. And yes, a bit." After a shy pause - a significant one explained below - she padded over and politely thanked Noyana, reaching out a paw for a scrap in a questioning way...even though Pridelanders were fantastic and shared a lot, she didn't wish to be rude.
That pause went something like this:
Tufah studied the other youngster and while mentally she wondered about the bright bright yellow fur, it made sure she recognised Noyana. She'd seen her and her twin in the Pridelands before. And being a Pridelander automatically gave someone a metaphorical gold star in her books. Though the colour didn't bode well for this female being one of the 'better half' of the pride...probably rogues who'd joined one or two generations back - (no one had told Tufah yet she had some rogue blood in her since it was less favourable than her royal blood relations with Taka).
She thought all this about colour and class with a second, her hesitantion slight enough to make her seem merely shy. Tufah didn't mean to be prejudice but she'd yet to hear opinions that differed, so she couldn't think otherwise. And Noyana was 'neutral' at the moment. Any 'lower class' blood shown by the yellow was canceled out by the fact she was clearly a Pridelander, even in action, sharing like she was.
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Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:53 pm
Noyana could tell that in the pause, more was happening in the cub's head than meets the eye. Fine with Noyana, she'd done some observing before she'd said much to the cub as well- it was only natural.
She pushed the rabbit closer, allowing the cub to eat as much of it as she pleased. "So, you were the one chasing that hare," she said, getting the ball rolling. How she was going to turn this to the female's lineage, she didn't know, but she'd get it there in one way or another. "You had it pretty scared," Noyana chuckled. It was true- this young one seemed, at least to Noyana, to have a talent starting to blossom already. "My name's Noyana, I don't believe I've met you before?" she said, tilting her head. She knew the litter, but not the names. Of course, that she didn't say either.
Do I outright tell her I've heard about her family? Noyana thought desperately. She wouldn't let the cub go without obtaining the information she wanted, but she didn't want to take forever either. Perhaps the way to go, eventually, would be to bring up the story.
Who's side was Noyana on? She hadn't really decided, because she had only heard the Mufasa side. She'd never heard what Taka had thought of the whole situation... That would be a good way to turn it around, certainly the little reddish-brown cub knew the other side of the story. She waited, though, for what Tufah had to say.
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Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 5:56 pm
"Was told that that's what we're good for, as females. Catching stuff. You're obviously a good huntress Noyana." She said, after chewing and gulping down a shred of meat. Tufah set to work tearing another strip off. It was obviously a high compliment for her to pay. Another gold star for Noyana.
"And thanks. I've been practising practically since I could walk. I'm Tufah." The talk of her own hunt had caused the slightly false smile to blossom into a true grin. Hunting, even unsuccessfully, was her joy. She loved running, pouncing, the feel of something elses fur under her paws...and what she was doing now, using her claws. All this was also it was training for her 'purpose'. To be the best huntress in body and with her cunning find a powerful, hopefully royal mate. Her heart of course belonged to the Pridelands itself. Nevermind actually having a cubhood.
"I've seen you about - you have a brother, who looks like you? I've not met him, or any of your family before." A pause. Grasping for common ground. "None of my brothers look much like me, I'm more like mother."
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Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 12:27 pm
"I'm glad to meet you, Tufah," Noyana said politely.
Yes... an opening! Noyana thought as she mentioned her mother. This was Noyana's chance to tempt out the other side of the story. "Your mother.... She's Tiah, isn't she?" Noyana asked, even though she knew the answer. Even if she didn't know that was Tufah's mother, the spots running down her spine were a dead giveaway as to who's line she carried.
"Isn't she Scar's daughter?" Noyana asked neutrally, bringing the topic finally to the light. The question was asked in neither a negative tone nor a condescending tone. "You know, I'm just not sure what to think about that," she said, looking skyward without moving her head. She brought her eyes back down. "Most of the Pride sides with Mufasa, but... Nobody's ever really listened to Scar's side. I'd like to know the truth of what happened back then, rather than the probably-skewed story we hear today." she said, hoping Tufah would know what Scar's side of the story is.
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Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 1:55 pm
"Good to meet you too." She nodded her head.
The cub took a few moments to roughly wash her paw clean, a few licks and a wipe across her mouth. Couldn't have someone like herself looking like a scruffy good-for-nothing, now, could she? Besides the flies annoyed her....and gave her time to consider the other females words.
"I know the story and our version is probably as skewed as anyones. It's the same as yours, in truth. However, just place yourself in Taka's pawprints. Just really place yourself in them. You've lost everything, everything you ever expected and wanted and loved including birthright, intended mate, your brother's friendship, your prides respect.... Your brother, you you were close to, risked his life rashly attacking alone and only won because he was lucky enough to surprise a lone invader. Despite the fact you were devising a way to win with wit and cunning, so no one could possibly get hurt. Oh I don't deny it was an amazing feat of bravery and strength but the truth is Mufasa could have been slaughtered."
The red cub paused. She'd been speaking in an odd voice, repeating words she'd heard a thousand times. Really empathsising with Taka, there was passion and bitterness, and a hint of uncertainty. How could she love this pride when it had been that cruel? Tufah though of Pridelanders as loyal, strong, and so together . Food was shared, cubs looked after by nannies, and the entire beautiful land safe to wander...and yet they'd driven their rightful heir to bitterness, and ignored tradition. Yet she did love it, in her own twisted way. Even with her vanities and youthful delusions of 'class'.
"Taka could have ruled alongside his brother. Him by right, his brother out of gratitude. We have twin heirs now, why didn't they consider it? How could they do that to him? And how could Mufasa let it happen to his brother when he was so kind of everyone else? No wonder Taka changed as he did..."
It wouldn't happen to her, ever. Tufah swore this. Even if she wasn't considered royalty when even the second cousins of Mufasa' line were, she'd gain the best position she could. As befitted Taka's grandaughter, damnit.
(o_o; Erm. Sorry for the huge post but Tufah's sort of passionate about it.)
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Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2007 9:55 am
((That's good, and what Noyana was looking for. XD))
Yes, this had been exactly what Noyana had been waiting to hear.
"Well, honestly... I didn't know that Taka had a birthright," Noyana said honestly. "I've only been told that Mufasa had a brother, Taka, and that Mufasa saved the Pride while Taka hid in the shadows out of fear. I see now that that's not the whole story, and it's a morphed one at that," Noyana said. Tufah's passionate tale-telling indeed opened Noyana's eyes. She had a different view of the current queen and king, and wondered what would be now if Taka had been made king. She would mull over this newer "updated" version of the story over the night to make her decision about who she would've liked better as king.
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Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2007 4:01 pm
"Everyone has their own version, I suppose, but until I learn otherwise I'm sticking to what my mother says. And besides probably the only ones who know the truth are all now with the stars." Tufah nodded towards the sky sagely, knowing that to her, Taka was up there with all the other rulers. Great kings, queens, princes and princesses...though she herself would never become a star. She was denied the honor of being considered royalty after all. And for that, inside she was as bitter as her grandfather was supposed to have been.
Politeness made her turn her eyes back to Noyana, regarding the female closely. She'd asked about Taka and automaticly hadn't leaped up to argue Mufasa's case - she actually seemed to be thinking things over. That Tufah could respect...maybe she wasn't a lower sort of lion just because she had to have rogue blood in her to be such a colour. In fact...
"And what of your family, Noyana? Not to be rude, I'm just curious."
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Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2007 8:41 pm
Noyana picked out a rib bone and used it to pry out an annoying piece of rabbit fur from between her teeth before she went on, though she tried to make this action as discrete as possible.
"My parents both are 'immigrants.' Neither of them were born in the Pridelands. They've had a litter of four before mine, and then my litter of seven. Mom and dad seem to have sided with Mufasa, with most of the pride, but I want to know what really truly happened so I can decide for myself," Noyana said. "I'm tired of having to accept everything that's told to me as the truth, there must be some things that I'm told that aren't true. I know it. That's why I asked about your lineage, Taka's side of things." From the outside, anyone could tell that she was trying to decide between what everyone says is true, and what actually might be the truth.
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 5:45 am
"I thought they weren't from around here, truth be told. Your family as so vivid..." Tufah averted her eyes from the bone toothpick, common courtesy. It was bad manners to draw attention to such a thing, surely.
"To be frank, some have said I should look down upon lions whose lineage isn't rooted in the pridelands. But you don't seem like someone I should look down upon. My whole upbringing, I think, may be unusual but I shall try to live my own life - decide what I will. And I don't think that it'd be intelligent to be biased like that."
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 3:09 pm
"You sound wise beyond your years, Tufah," Noyana said, silently appreciating the ignorance of her toothpick, which she tossed aside once she was done. "They work as hard as any other pride member, and really, I think they've helped out the lands a lot," Noyana said, unable to produce a specific example. She was sure that they had somehow. If not, then by the sheer fact that in two litters they've had 11 cubs born into the Pridelands. "Besides," she said with a touch of anger, her mind making itself up, "I'm not entirely sure I'd want to be born from the bloodlines of a thief." She was, of course, referring to Mufasa's burglary of the throne. Yes, it seemed her mind had picked a side for her.
"Not saying that all Pridelanders are traitors!" She corrected herself quickly, not trying to pass the wrong impression. "I just... I'm not sure about things anymore," she said, her mind asking all these questions. Was the queen really right for the job? Or was she leading the pride to Oblivion? Actually... what was she doing? She was the direct offspring of Mufasa, and yet, she hadn't done anything since she became queen. Noyana didn't vocalize these thoughts, as she would obviously get in big trouble if she did, but she simply thought about it.
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