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 Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2013 12:32 pm
As the mother and daughter pair approached, Dina took extra interest in studying over the cubs. Their size, color, and even behavior. It would be intrusive to get too close to Ulaka and her cubs this soon after their arrival, and Dina had been around many of the pride's litters before. Not to mention having several of her own. Without a word she simply lowered herself to the ground and took a comfortable position away from the fuss, continuing to watch in interest and curiosity. Flicking an ear at those who spoke in praise, but piecing together an opinion of her own.
Chazama on the other paw was very excited and pleased with the presence of the young cubs and the safe return of their mother. They were indeed adorable! Some were even puffed up and hissing, which got a small chuckle from Chazama as she sidled up next to some of the closer members of her pride that had come to investigate. "Its so good to see new cubs in the pride; well done, Ulaka", she praised, clearly enthralled by the little bundles of cuteness.
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Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 12:00 am
They were adorable, and a touch of a smile crossed Ulaka's muzzle. It was mixed up with a grimace at all the hissing going on underneath her feet. She'd seen many litters come home, and she had hoped her own would step forwards with a boldness born of their father.
Vaguely, she wondered if Gakere had hissed or remained stoic when he was first presented to the pride. He'd been a single male, as the rumor went.
She bumped the hissing Uthuli with her nose, and then gave her a quick affectionate wash with her tongue.
"Uthuli'Sathane," she presented for the others. "Dust devil," she repeated in the common tongue for those that had not learned Zulu or did not have the desire. Hissing away as she was, the devil part was perhaps easy to understand.
"You may pick them up if you are careful," she added to no lioness in particular. However, there were a few clear suspects on her mind and she kept a very wary eye on Thulisile, Chazama and Mhisani.
>> Next post will be on Saturday, July 6th
>> You can assume if your lioness picks up a cub, Ulaka tells the lioness the cub's name.
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Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 9:58 pm
>>Extended until I get a few posts
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Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 4:57 pm
The tan lioness couldn't help but grin a bit at the name. Oh, she could see the devil part alright! "I almost pity whatever prey she sets her eyes on!" Almost, but not quite. Prey was still food and everybody wanted and needed it. She looked down at the cubs, gently motioning for them to walk. She was afraid to pick them up - While she had some experience back home with cubs of others, she'd also grown up in her home pride. Everybody knew her and could trust her. She was in a different pride, and few knew her personally. So while she kept a good eye on the cubs, Mhisani kept a respectful distance.
If anybody was going to reach for her, Isasa waddled away. She was NOT going to be carried! She had DIGNITY! The little cub began to walk, curiosity taking over as she followed a lioness. And then... Something caught her eye. She looked, paused, watched it... And then pounced, biting with her cub teeth. Mhisani's tail stood no chance against the mighty little huntress!
While her head and ears lifted in surprise, Mhisani did not jerk or jump at the sudden attack on her tail. Instead, she paused to look back, before smiling. "Hunting already!"
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Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 7:39 am
At the words "pick them up", Kel flattened his ears and wrinkled his nose. He hated being picked up. On the other hand, if Mother was willing to let these strangers hold her cubs, they couldn't be bad. Slowly, he padded out from behind his mother's leg, heading toward the edge of the crowd. He didn't know where to go first - there were so many lionesses. Then he spotted a face near the front of the crowd and, ears pricks forward, headed happily toward it. If he was going to meet new people, she would probably be one of the easiest. She looked like them! Well, a little. She had similar markings, especially the ones on her legs, even if she was a little oddly colored. He trotted over to the large lioness, stopping about a tail-length away and stretching out to sniff at her. Curiously, he raised one paw and stretched that out toward her, too, waving it about with tiny claws extended as though trying to grab the lioness and pull her closer. ------- 'Toboa watched, a little stunned, as one of the cubs pounced. Lifting her head, she saw that it had landed squarely on Mhisani's tail, and her whiskers twitched with amusement. It wasn't an antelope, but it was a start. Returning her attention to the three cubs remaining near their mother, she rested her head back in the grass. It seemed that the cubs had realized these lionesses weren't going to hurt them, but she still didn't want to approach them - even if she was related. Matifu was her father as well as Gakere's, although they had different mothers. Her gaze flicked over to one of the male cubs as he tottered over to Thulisile. She was a littler surprised that the lioness' intensity didn't frighten the young cub, but she supposed that they were probably pretty rough when playing with each other, so Thulisile's attitude probably fit right in.
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Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 8:34 am
Baie watched the little Gakere look-alike with a motherly smile, thinking back on the day when her own cubs had been just as tiny. She wouldn’t say the pale mane was an improvement but the cub looked so much like her daughter Kataaria that Baie decided he was nothing short of beautiful. Still… that pale mane was a real shame.
Now that the cubs were closer, she happily inspected them. Three girls, that was good. The pride was growing once again. Baie almost chuckled when she realized how each male cub took so strongly after either Gakere or Ulaka.
“They are beautiful, Ulaka. And strong.” She told the blue-eyed lioness sincerely, giving an approving nod towards the little huntress, Isasa. That one showed much promise. “Gakere will be proud of them.”
---------------------------------------------------
Thulisile smiled widely to her darker half-sister, almost trembling with excitement as she nodded in agreement. As one of her little nephews moved closer, the Lusizi lowered her elbows to the ground so that she could meet him at his level while keeping a somewhat playful stance.
“Hello. I’m Thuli.” The lioness’ tail danced in a happy and almost enticing way behind her. “You look just like your daddy.” She lifted one paw to meet the little cub’s, feeling a soft kind of warmth at the notion that the boy had chosen to approach her amongst all the other Abazingeli. Maybe in an instinctive way, he’d recognized her as family.
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Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 3:32 pm
Kel's ears flicked as he recognized the word "daddy". Ulaka had been saying that word a lot - telling the cubs they would soon be meeting their father, although they weren't really aware of that. Hearing the other lioness use the word, he stared at her for several heartbeats, wondering if maybe she was "Daddy", like he was "Impikelelo".
As Thuli raised her paw to meet his, the thought vanished. In truth, the words didn't really mean much to him; they might arouse his curiosity, but no more than anything else. This paw was much more important, all large and in his face.
Mischievously, he swatted at it a couple of times before butting it with his head. After rubbing his face around a bit, he peeked out from under Thuli's paw and stretched out his nose toward her's.
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Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 12:13 pm
Kaelyndra >>I will be posting this evening, at around 6pm PST, then we'll move to an every 4 day posting period.
>> That makes the post after this scheduled for July 20th.
>> I went ahead and quoted everyone who has posted at all in this ORP so far.
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Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 1:22 pm
 Buna wondered if Simosihle had made up her mind about her own first litter. It wouldn't be the Inselelo, hopefully, and that was all that mattered. She watched the cubs start to interact with (and in some cases tried to maim) the Abazingeli. All promising signs for the future.
"Fierce," she noted with a smile, "That's good. We'll have to tell her later that the first thing she ever hunted was Mhisani's tail."
Perhaps it was time for her to think about cubs of her own too... Maybe. She walked closer to the new cubs smiling encouragingly, but she made sure not to dangle her tail too close to any of them.
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Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 12:13 am
 The talk of new cubs hadn't gone unnoticed while it had been flying around, and certainly not to one who was likely going to wind up looking after at least a few of them at some point in time. When a few excited cries had brought his attention to the matters at hand, the dark lion had deemed it fit to stop and see just what was going to be becoming a part of the pride. As a result, Lindani had been staying a 'safe' distance away from the other members of his pride, unintentionally looming like a nervous thundercloud over the entire proceeding from afar. From what he could tell, all of them were healthy, lovely cubs--good, good. There were even a few females among them, though he couldn't help but cringe out of unspoken sympathy for the two males bumbling along. Oh, they were going to be in for a shock when they were old enough.
He had recognized his mother right away, and that had contributed to the large male's approach, even if he was somewhat uncomfortable at the thought of going over to join the conversation. His attention was sharply shifted as one of the females pounced, trapping Mhisani's tail without much effort; if he would've been a more social lion, perhaps he would've allowed himself an audible chuckle. As it was, Lin simply fidgeted in place, a small smile forming at the corners of his mouth. This litter was something, alright. Hissing and hunting so soon--at least that showed how energetic they were. He'd have to see if he couldn't pick up their names from some conversation he could listen in on later, unless he would be unlucky enough to be pulled into the affair. While the attention was on the cubs, the Ahluke figured he was safe--for now. If any of them decided to turn around, his not-so-sneaky cover would be wrecked. Ah well--it was only his pride, and that wasn't too much to worry about, especially when compared to his established list of Things. He didn't even consider the fact that it could be called very creepy to be camping out and watching cubs be brought in.
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Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 4:40 pm
"If Gakere doesn't like them, then he is blind and a fool," Ulaka quickly informated Baie. "He's not even here to see his new brood." Plenty would argue that was because he was defending the border, keeping them safe, or otherwise doing what he wanted as an Umholi should.
While Ulaka wasn't responded to each and every compliment, it would have taken a fool not to see the pride in her eyes. Her body posture said, 'Yes, thank you. Yes, I know they're the best'.
The more people complimented her, the more her chest seemed to puff up, and she snatched a wandering Nolaka from where she'd been plotting interrupt her brother's good fun.
Fierce could have described all of them with how they were moving forwards, hissing, pouncing tails.
Ulaka pulled in a long breath. Her eyes flicked briefly to Thuli, but when the young lioness didn't seem to be doing anything threatening, she straightened and continued.
"This one is named as much," Ulaka responded to Buna. She set the squirming Nolaka down at the lioness' feet. "Always picking on her siblings."
The lioness pushed a few feet through some of the females, finding a small bush to collapse underneath. While it was a cool day, the walk had been long, full of constantly reprimanding children, and she needed the break.
>> Next post will be July 20th, sometime after 6pm PST
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Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 8:45 pm
Nombuso found herself lingering just several feet shy of the commotion, her attention turned over a shoulder as Awiki's footfalls grew closer. Her nose twitched while her eyes fell pointedly upon the peach form, ebon lips parting, "Can't resist?" before a wide grin peeled them back.
Awiki, who had held back for as long as she could possibly stand to, in response grunted. It was no more a sign of content then the rise of hairs between her shoulders, or the way she kept her steady stride in passing Nombuso. It was better to remain silent then to risk upsetting the Umzingeli-- a habit the Busisa had become very good at playing out. She made way for the shuffle of tiny paws in the grass without another word, a smile growing upon her pale face just as it had her elders'.
The focus returned to Ulaka and her feisty lot for both females, then. The youngsters performances seemed to mirror that of their mothers, flashy, and roused a hardy chuckle from the Umzingeli who had at last ventured close enough to greet them. Awiki took place beside Nombuso at first, but quickly moved to stand back beside their recent arrival Landani. He was the first of many males born to their ranks to stay by choice. Nombuso's mild-discontent with any male relying on the sanction of his home pride had its moments of sway on the Busisa, but in that moment she couldn't say it really mattered. The choice was ultimately his own.
Awiki was mindful of Ulaka's disturbance with the pride closing in on her litter, but was almost tempted to step closer and to dote upon the cubs just as the others so feverishly did. Settling for a deep lean in, sneaking a peek at the spitting fluffs, she giggled before muttering to no one in particular. "They really are quite fierce! How cute!"
Nombuso, on the other hand, was busy looking the cubs over from as short of a distance possible, without shoving any of the others aside. She might have made a few faces at them in the process, playfully sticking her tongue out or crossing her eyes, but would finally spin on her heels in pursuit of the mother. "They look strong, Ulaka." Walking in a semi-circle only to seat herself near the other lioness, Nombuso went on with eyes following the crowds movements. Her smile seemed to have fallen some, but not by much. "Don't be so harsh on him."Zactura Awiki is just standing next to him. He doesn't have to address her or anything, just quoting to let you know~!
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Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 4:22 am
"Is that so," Buna asked with a smile and lowered her head towards little Nolaka, "You're the fierce one? That's a good thing."
It made sense that the cub with the darkest colored mane would be. The ones that could hold their own against their siblings tended to be strong and stay strong. As the little lioness grew older she'd learn to work together with her sisters in the pride, but for now it was good that she showed initiative. Less aggressive cubs would have a harder time getting their share when it was time to eat. Not that these cubs would need to fight much for food. The pride would make sure that Gakere's cubs could eat!
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Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 6:36 am
She spied something else, letting the tail she'd pounced on go. He was big... Very big. Isasa looked up toward the male lion that approached. Unlike the lionesses, where her reaction was to simply puff up and hiss, the cub shrank down before she scrambled, running to hide behind her mother. She had no idea it was simply her half-brother, only that he was big, had puffy hair ALL over, and this was in itself alarming to Isasa.
Her tail was suddenly free... Mhisani watched the cub run, then turned and spied Lindani. "Lindani, you've come to see your brothers and sisters?" To the pale lioness, the idea of males sticking around their birth pride wasn't alien or strange. It was one more male to protect the pride, after all. She knew the Ithambo frowned on it, though, and planned to encourage any sons of hers to leave, and either join another pride, start their own, or come back later in life to challenge and become an Umholi themself.
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Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:11 am
The best? Baie doubted it but she knew better than to start a petty argument with the tired lioness. She simply chuckled and smiled instead, admiring the vitality of the young little lions until one of them seemed to shy away and run for Ulaka. Looking over her shoulder, the orange Umzingeli spotted her son at the back of the group and she made her way to his side. He looked so beautiful, large and dark with his father’s eyes. It was a shame he’d decided to stay behind when his brothers had chosen to leave and the lioness had to wonder if she had babied him too much, given him too much praise and comfort that the dark boy did not wish to lose. Baie hadn’t given up on his departure just yet, she was certain he would one day tire of his Ahluke rank and leave with her blessing.
“You and your brothers were just like that when you were little.” She told him after a quick little rub on his side. “Well… I do remember there being less hissing involved…” Thuli grinned widely as the cub swatted at her paw and then melted a little when she rubbed her head against it. The Lusizi wasn’t in a hurry to have cubs of her own but the contact with the little male stirred things inside her she didn’t knew existed. Thuli’s nose met the cub’s and she nuzzled the little one’s cheek, smiling warmly.
“That’s your big brother, Lindani.” She gave a small nod in her nephew’s direction, wondering what the cubs would think of a fully grown mane. One of the girls had already ran for cover and Thuli had to refrain from laughing at the adorable sight.
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