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 Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 9:01 am
“Another pride?” He mused aloud. “Maybe…I guess. But I wouldn’t know where to start or go about it. Mother and father told me that other prides can be territorial…that they don’t like rogues on their lands. I wouldn’t want to cause trouble and I don’t want to cause any fights. I’ve not been in a fight in my life. I wouldn’t even know how to use my claws.”
He sighed.
“Your home?” He tipped an ear. “How do lions join your home, Noki? Without causing grief or upsetting the balance.”
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Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 12:29 pm
"Oh," Noki murmured, realizing her mistake in mentioning other prides. She had only ever been in the Jini-msemi and now the Pridelands, neither had been very unwelcoming. Perhaps she would have learned that eventually if she had traveled without her family, but this was quite dramatic enough without getting into any fights. Her only fighting experience was hunting related, and they didn't fight back the same way a lion would.. so she was not keen on the idea of starting any fights.
"I guess I never thought about that," she said finally with a shrug, then perked up a bit when asked about her home, "Well, it's not as quick as I understand it is here. You have to talk to the queen, and if she approves then you get to stay. You are officially a member when you get a new name, just like any of us. Those of us on name quests, I mean. But you don't actually leave on a name quest like you do when you've grown up in the pride."
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Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 1:00 pm
"Talk to the queen?" He sounded a little relieved at that. He knew kings and queens, he knew how to behave around them, knew how to talk politely too. Yes, he could manage that, probably, so long as he got passed his nerves. The old king and queen of the pridelands had been a friendly, understanding sort. It was quite probable that others were too.
"New name too? Even a rogue?" He shifted uncomfortably then stood and turned away. His shoulders were tense and for a moment he said nothing. It wasn't clear what was going through the young lion's mind.
Then he turned back and his eyes were full of passion. "Noki. I want to go with you when you return to your pride. This...this is what I need. A new start, a new beginning. Having a new pride, new friends...even a new name. It's what I need. It's the only way...the only way I can try and forget my loneliness and uselessness here. If I can start again I can work from the bottom up. A fresh slate." He shook his head. "I want my own life now...I can't just sit here and wait for it to offer itself. I have to go out and find it."
"Noki...do you...think I could?"
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Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 1:21 pm
"Yes, I paid enough attention to figure out everybody gets a new name, even joining rogues," she said, watching him consider everything she said. Noki might have been more cheerful if he hadn't looked so uncertain, she wasn't sure what the most suitable tone was for this conversation- until he said he wanted to go back with her when she returned. Then she couldn't help but smile, though she contained any further excitement. She only had her siblings for friends, she hadn't expected to be able to keep any close contact and relationship with friends she met on her name quest.
"You really want to come to the Jini-msemi?" she asked, visibly and audibly cheerful now, "Well then! I was told there was a waterhole somewhere this way, if you take me there I can tell you all about the pride." There were a lot more details than she had let one, just as she was certain there was more to this land than she had learned already.
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Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 1:36 pm
"I do." He replied firmly. "I'm being true to my birth name at last. I've set my heart on it. Ironic that I could be leaving that name behind. But...my parents will always know me as Chunuka, as well as everyone else here. I can't leave them behind altogether." He smiled softly.
"You know, this is the first time I've felt like I'm doing something right for a long time. Even when I went out to get my father I felt uncertain and hesitant. Now...I feel...light." He smiled.
"Waterhole? Of course. Since you've been helping me so much I have to repay the favour. This way." And the smile didn't leave his face.
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