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 Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 8:52 am
Usha smiled. "I suppose it is." She couldn't exactly go around saying it was in the affirmative because that would be like stomping on, or ignoring, their beliefs in where males are. It was for the protection of females, indeed, but it was also punishment for male-kind, penance of a sort. Until the goddess told them otherwise, this would be how their system of government would stay.
She looked down at the girl to smile at her. Surely something could be wrong. But little children always liked to make up games, did they not? Even if their playmates were imaginary.
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Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:07 am
There was something wrong with Nuksani, but Baala wasn't going to come out and say it to Usha. There was no need for the pink lioness to know of her child's 'illness', and how she had inherited it from her father. It was painful to talk about it to begin with, and she was certain that Nuksani would be embarrassed by having it discussed by the two adults. Baala was a good enough parent to know when to keep silent about something, and this was one of those times. Nuksani's secret would remain a secret until the young cub overcame whatever illness plagued her mind and her sight. Or, if Nuksani wanted to tell the world what she saw, but if Nuksani chose to Baala would know that she had not overcome the illness that she had inherited. For the time being, Baala would whisper to her daughter from time to time, urging her to keep silent about what she saw. It could be devastating, if Nuksani ever settled down in a pride, if other lions knew of her mental disease.
Nuksani happened to see the pink lioness smile down at her, and she smiled as a strange idea flitted through her mind. The cub had yet to learn how to censor her own thoughts, and so rather seriously she spoke up. "Mom, I want to stay here."
Baala's face froze, a reflection of pain shining at the surface of her eyes. Obviously it had been on her mind that her children needed a permanent place to stay, but just as obviously she wasn't expecting her children to actually want to stay in one place. "Oh," she said softly, gazing down at her daughter through sad, thoughtful eyes. She was thinking, and thinking hard.
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Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:51 am
Usha blinked, submerging her feeling of success. Because she had not come out here like a Jehovah's Witness, intending to convert. She had simply run across the lioness while escaping the pressures she felt as queen and had offered her a place to stay. That it had escalated to this point was nice to think of but it did not mean Usha had won since she had not been fighting to do more than make sure the views of her pride were presented fairly so that the other could understand. She carefully masked her smile to that of an endearing one, one that said it was cute that a child would think so but she did not expect anything to come of it.
Her gaze lifted to that of the mother, scanning and waiting for what this thinking would come to. She hated to interrupt it but she also didn't want the other to feel almost pressured. "Night is coming soon," she said and gestured with a paw to the path that would take them back to the pride. "If you would like to get a head-start on some rest, I can lead the way."
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Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:04 am
Baala was watching her daughter intently, and she could see that Nuksani wasn't happy with a lack of response to her statement. But, the yellow cub wasn't going to get a response at this moment. Baala had to think, but she also did not want to appear rude by not conversing with the pink lioness beside her. One thing was for sure, though, and that was that Baala was going to have to consider this. She had always known that she wanted her cubs to live and grow in a pride, but she had never known that her daughters wanted the same thing. Now that she knew that Nuksani actually wanted to stay here, it aided her in coming to the conclusion that perhaps this was the best place for her daughters to stay. They would be protected from the evils of men, and would be raised into strong and independent lionesses. This was the perfect environment for young females, and the ideals that Baala wanted to instill upon them would be here. Really... there was no reason not to have her children stay here...
Except, Baala didn't want to stay, and giving up her children would pain her.
"I would appreciate it if you would lead the way," she said to the pink lioness, and by the tone of her voice it was clear that she was distracted. Her thoughts were slowly becoming more intense, drawing quickly to a conclusion that seemed almost inevitable. Baala let her daughter stand up, and watched through hazed eyes as Nuksani skipped ahead, oblivious to the fact that she had no idea where she was going. She'd come back once she got too far ahead, and Baala wasn't too worried. Nuksani knew to stay in range of Baala's sight.
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Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:13 am
Usha nodded and obediently led the way, weaving her way past the males dutifully doing whatever menial tasks they chose to do and past the other dens and clans to the heart of the pride where her den, the second largest, was. There weren't very many members to the Tarka clan although at the moment, it had young ones running around. But the boys were plentiful enough that when they reached adolescence, the den would be more open once again. "This is my home," she said, offering it to them. "However, if you'd rather some place much more private, we do have a few empty dens."
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Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:23 am
Baala seemed to be keenly observing her surroundings, especially the males toiling away at menial jobs. They were so well behaved that they didn't respond to the arrival of Usha and Baala, and passing them it only confirmed Baala's suspicions that this would be a good place for her cubs to be raised. The pride had plenty of cubs as well for her children to play with. Really, there were nothing that she could find that would make her not want to give her children up to the pride. At that moment, her mind had made up its decision. She could tell by the ache in her heart that she would give up her cubs. Baala wasn't thinking about Kiuma and what the red lioness would think about this. She was only thinking of her cubs and the happiness that they would have here. Baala was a good mother in the sense that she would do anything to see her cubs happy, even giving them up when she wasn't sure she was ready to. But, when Kiuma was found they'd only leave once again, and it would be too late for Baala to make up her mind. Kiuma would stop her if she tried... and so it had to be now, before she saw Kiuma again and lost her resolve.
"No, this is fine, in fact, this is rather wonderful, if you do not mind us intruding," and this even seemed distant. But, when she spoke next her voice was strong, certain. She had ushered her daughters off to play with the cubs of the clan, giving her the peace of knowing that her cubs would not overhear such a conversation. "Could you take my daughters in? I've been longing to give them a good start in a pride. I grew up as a rogue, and it had never been an easy life for me. I don't want my daughters to go through what I have gone through, so I would like them to stay here. The ideals of this pride are perfect, the environment is perfect for them. They'd be healthy and happy here." Baala wasn't willing to listen to Usha argue the point of Baala leaving her cubs here. Baala just wanted to hear if Usha would take them in, raise them in her pride. That was the only answer Baala wanted, not some extensive conversation about the pros and cons of leaving her cubs with the Kunanda'Nakhun. She had already considered it in her mind. She had come to her conclusion.
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Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 1:03 pm
Usha shook her head. "No, we don't mind the intrusion." At her next statements, thoughts of different but related sorts clustered her brain. She thought of what it'd be like to have cubs to raise. Not that she'd do much of the raising. That was a male job. But what it'd be like to have that sort of joy, responsibility. Of course, talking to Ayni about that would be for the best. She could always count on Ayni to have good advice and opinions on important manners.
But she also thought of what it'd be like to loose a child, to give them up for an ideal, a way of love that you wouldn't in turn committ yourself to. Surely the female had reasons. She seemed perfectly capable of thinking and acting for herself, if not containing a shady past. Usha could not say that the female gave them up because of their defects. The female did not seem that type. And there were a million questions she wanted to ask the female in turn, in information about why she would make such a sacrifice. She said it was to give them a pride life but Usha felt like there should be more. Or maybe she just simply didn't understand it truly since she had never been a rogue nor had she ever had children.
Usha finally nodded again for the female. "Yes, we'd be happy to take them in. You're welcome as well?"
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Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 1:15 pm
"You've been a great help for me, thank you," the lioness said softly, obviously plagued by her decision to leave her cubs here. But, it was clear that she would not change her mind. Once she had made it up, she stayed firm in her belief that it would be best that her children stayed here. The rogue life was a difficult one, and she didn't want her daughters going through what she had gone through. It had broken her down, had beaten and abused her. She could not stand the thought of her baby girls being harmed, could not stand the thought of them being constantly tired and constantly in search of food. They needed a stable environment, not one that could change in an instant and never return to normalcy. It was her firm belief that this was best for her children, and she would not change her mind, not even when she began to miss them and yearn for them at her side.
"Thank you," she said again when Usha agreed to take in her daughters. She sighed in relief, happy that Usha had consented. Her daughters now had a home, some place where they would forever be happy. They would be raised well and taught well. She hoped they wouldn't forget about her, or be angry at her for leaving them. Baala just wanted to be remembered in a good light, and she wanted her daughters to appreciate her leaving them... when they were old enough to understand such things. "No, I'll be on my way again soon. My companion isn't the kind to settle down, and I'm quite adjusted to the life I lead. I don't want my daughters to be accostomed to it, so that's why I want them to stay here. I must go, though. This place isn't for me. Maybe I'll drop by some time to check up on them, that would be good."
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Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 1:25 pm
The other sounded incredibly hurried to leave almost even though she hadn't bothered to rest. Maybe it was just her desire for Usha to accept what she had to say. She could only imagine how uncomfortable a topic and situation it could be. "I see..." she said. "Well you should be welcome to visit any time you please for whatever length you desire." She of course couldn't promise that everyone would treat her fairly. There would be those who did not realize she was a visitor and simply think her a huntress. But such as it was, it did not save the fact that Usha would not keep anyone from their children unless doing so would be a great dishonor.
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Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 1:44 pm
"I appreciate this greatly, and I'm sure that I'll drop by when they're older. I think I'll leave when they settle down for sleep. It'll be easiest for them and myself that way." She did not plan to leave immediately, she couldn't do that. She wanted to spend as much time as she could with her daughters before it was time to go. Baala wanted to let them know that she loved them, and that she would never forget them. Of course, she wouldn't tell them that she was leaving. She couldn't be that cruel, and she was certain that she could not stand to see her daughters upset. Only they could make her resolve crumble. Nuksani had said earlier that she wanted to stay, but Baala was certain that Nuksani had not considered Baala not staying with her. It would be hard, the first few weeks, but in the end they would all recover and be made the happier for it. Baala would be content knowing her daughters were safe and well, and her daughters would have cubs to play with and a good place to grow up in. It was all that she had ever dreamed for them.
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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:31 pm
Usha nodded in acceptance. There was very little she could say for a resolute female and without her morals there was little she would have said. Since more members could only be a plus. The cubs were such lovely colors. Sure one had grey and black on her, the quiet one, but they were still lovely themselves. Usha herself half-fancied that their father was a massive red lion since their mother was rather dainty ...and size mattered here. But she stopped herself from thinking too deeply as that wouldn't very polite of her. She showed them to a comfortable part of the large den and broke off from them slightly, attending to the rest of the clan members in the den. They would be happy here, she would see to it, taking the children in as her own.
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