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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 2:21 pm
The name fixed in his memory this time, the repetition making its way past his nervousness. With a nod, he disappeared the way he had come, going to wake his son.
Zuri was already awake, his snake's eyes focusing on the dark lion as he approached. "Did you find ssomeone?"
Al-Hattal nodded.
Flicking his tail in acknowledgement, the snake slithered his way to the sleeping child's ear. "Time to wake up, Hausszu," he hissed.
The juvenile stirred, opening those bright eyes of his and blinking bleariness away. "But 's early."
"I know," Al-Ha responded, "But you need to wake up. There's someone you need to meet, and somewhere you need to go."
"Me? Where'm I going? What about you, Pa?" His sleepy mind was slow, and his voice a little slurred.
"You won't be alone, but I can't go with you." The lion stifled the urge to fidget. "You won't have to be wandering around all the time like me anymore, and you'll have friends. You'll be safe."
Hauzu was awake now, and he stood, going to hug against his father's forelegs. The young lion had always wanted to just stay in one place where he could make friends and stay with them, but.. "Can't you come too?"
Sighing, Al-Ha patted his son's back with a heavy forepaw. "I'm sorry, Hauzu, but I can't. I have to keep going. Tisha will take care of you, though. She has boys like you, and her friends have kids your age, too. You'll be fine, you don't need me now."
"Promise me you'll come back?"
"Huh?"
"Just...just sometimes. Even just once! Please, Pa?" Hauzu'l looked up at him with beseeching eyes.
Surprised, but not knowing what else to do, he nodded. "Okay, I will."
He rubbed his cheek against his father's shoulder affectionately. "Good."
Pulling gently away, Al-Hattal looked down at his son and ruffled his scraggly little mane. "I have to go now. Tisha will come for you, okay? Just wait here."
"Okay." Hauzu'l sat, watching the older lion sadly as he turned to go. "G'bye, Pa."
"Goodbye."
Al-Ha disappeared back into the forest, making his way slowly back to where Tisha waited, and nodded. "It's done."
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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 2:31 pm
Tisha had almost dozed off in the confortable warmth within the shade. It felt nice to be in the shadows and feel only a bit of heat, but the cool breeze at the same time. Ear flickering with the sound of footsteps, she forced back a yawn and pushed herself up into a seated position once more, just catching the form of Al-Hattal as he entered the clearing.
When his words greated her ears, she nodded in return and moved to stand, "If you follow this worn path, it will seem to end suddenly, but if you continue straight through a series of bushes and between trees, you will come to a new one. Along that path, you will walk for a few more minutes until the trees clear. That is where the pridelands are." Murmering it softly as always, she smiled, "It is hard to miss once you know your way." Walking closer to him, she eyed the path he returned from, and swiftly changed the subject. All she wanted to do was give him direction incase he did wish to return, though she made no motion that he had to.
"Your son is still in the same spot he was sleeping at, correct?"
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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 2:34 pm
After listening carefully to the lioness' directions and fixing them in his mind, he nodded. "I understand. Thank you."
"Yes, he's still there. I told him to wait for you." Al-hattal's tail gave one last nervous flick before it settled calmly behind him. This was almost over.
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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 2:43 pm
"Well, than I shall not leave him to wait too long. May your journey be a safe one." With a bow of her head, and a smile of goodbye crossing her maw, she finally moved past his nervous form and padded her way slowly towards the young cub. Somehow, the tension of the larger lion made her heart grow sad, or maybe it was the hormones with her carrying the extra cub, but she had a feeling that the sorrow would bring him back sometime soon.
While she didn't look back, she hoped that he wouldn't be offended if he watched her go. Instead, she focused on the form she would greet, and how he would respond to her taking him in. She became nervous with thoughts that the boy would refuse and chase after his dad, considering she had no idea who he was. Yet, as she made way to where the boy had slumbered, all doubts left her mind and she knew she was doing the right thing.
She felt heat rise to her cheeks as she started at the young cub, who she had no idea of his name but only his snake's. Clearing her throught to catch his attention, she sent a shakey smile his way.
"Hello there young one, my name is Tisha..." Hopefully, the boy knew of her name instead.
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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 2:49 pm
Hauzu'l didn't have to wait long as he stared off in the direction his father had gone. Zuri had slithered up to drape over his shoulders, a comforting weight for the juvenile whose father had just walked away; but he wasn't angry, only sad. He'd miss his papa.
He blinked as the lioness came into view, eyes glancing over her with a shy curiosity. Swallowing, heanswered, "Hello. Papa said you'd come."
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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 2:56 pm
Smile growing, she saw his sorrow and unconfort, and simply tried to ease him with a soft voice and a soothing tone.
"Yes, I just spoke with him...what is your name, or any sort of name you would wish I call you?" Giving him the option, she moved out into the open and paused a few yards away, settling down on her haunches and just watching him with her bi-colored eyes. After he grew a bit more at ease with her, and a good amount of time passed for Al-Ha to make his leave, she would offer to escourt him into the lands and towards the dens. But until than, she was content to just sit and speak with him.
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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 3:02 pm
"Hauzu'l Kausar," he answered after a moment, scuffing the ground with one forepaw. His pa had given him a terribly long name. "But Hauzu is fine."
He wasn't sure at all what he was supposed to do or say, so he just settled for responding if she spoke to him.
The blue snake around his shoulders eyed the lioness appraisingly. "I'm Zssuri." He doubted Al-Ha would have told her.
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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 3:13 pm
Tisha bowed her head lightly in greeting, her eyes closing for a moment as she thought over the possibilities. Hauzu still was young, that much was apparent, and the snake he had seemed to be much like a parent figure, very protective.
"Hauzu, your father asked me to watch over you in the Kusini lands. I am sure Zuri will help a lot more than I shall. Please, do not think of me as a replacement for your father, for I could never do that. I am simply to be a guardian." She smiled softly, "I have a den within the heart of the lands, and next to it there is a smaller, empty one where you can make your home." She hoped that she didnt come off as negitive in any way. It was hard to get the words out, without sounding like she was adopting him.
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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 5:57 pm
"Kusini," he repeated. "That's where we are?" He'd never really been somewhere that was somewhere before; it was different and fascinating, and a distraction from his sadness.
Zuri was pleased to be acknowledged as important, although he was not capable of giving his charge much in the way of help that was more than spoken, nor could he take the place of the lion's own kind. He settled himself a little more comfortably, secure for whatever walk they'd be making.
"I'd like that," Hauzu said with a small nod. "i've never had a den before." He'd never had a home before.
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Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 6:48 pm
A beautiful smile crossing her maw, Miremba moved to stand and nodded her head, "Well than, please feel free to follow me, and I can answer your questions on the way. It might get dark soon, so we should get on our way about now." She softly spoke the word as her weight ajusted, and she turned to where the path was before. It was a different one, the one she first journied on. The forest had many trails and entrances, and after thinking a moment, Tisha decided to take the one that Al-Ha was not near.
"Maybe if we are lucky, you will get a chance to meet my sons or the young royalty along the way. I am sure they would enjoy becoming friends with you, Hauzu."
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Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 10:54 am
"Okay," he assented, turning in the same direction Tisha did. His gaze flicked here and there, unaccustomed to being in a forest. There were so many trees, and he said as much. "How d'you know where you're going with all these trees?"
"Royalty?" Hauzu asked, eyes widening. "Really?" He'd never even seen anyone important before!
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Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 9:34 am
"Well," she started, in response to his questionings, "There are many paths for wanderers to get lost within, but as long as you know one of the dozens of paths leading to the inlands, you won't find yourself lost. We have many tricks and landmarks we use to find our way. But, usually only hunters must search the woods, once you are in the inlands there is not really a need to leave the plains."
As if deep in thought, she glanced around herself before adding, "And only a few more minutes, and you will get your first sighting of the lands. This entrance is a good one, because it shows everything in its glory."
Taking a second, she nodded to his other question, addressing it in the same paitent manor as before. Smiling, she knew just how curious the youth were these days.
"Why yes, my eldest son Tafari is always hanging around with the young princess Isoke. Than there is the prince Kenai, as well as the twins Fu'Sikio and Angua. They are all around your age, however they have elder siblings as well who are adults. The prince is one I am sure you will meet eventually." With that long description stated, as well as the pauses for her to remember and let the names settle, they finally made it to the entrance of the pridelands.
Pausing once more, Tisha settled by the bushes and looked to Hauzu and Zuri.
"Welcome Hauzu to the Kusini'Mwezi lands...your new home..." And with that, she lifted a paw and revealed the lands in all their glory, the sunset shimmering down upon the miles of hills and plans as well as catching the reflection of the rivers to the east and west. Giving him a moment to settle, she let herself catch her breath.
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 3:25 pm
Due to Tisha's explanation, Hauzu'l began to pay closer attention to where they were going, figuring that how to get where just might come in handy. That and getting lost would just plain suck.
"So many," he breathed. The juvenile had no concept of what was a large pride and what was small, never having seen one himself. It sounded to him like there were an awful lot of lions here.
Presented the view of the Kusini lands, his jaw dropped. The young lion's bright eyes widened. "Home.."
"Home," echoed his reptilian companion, tongue flicking out to taste the air.
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Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 11:22 am
Watching the young lion from the sides, she just smiled at his reaction, something that her son had done as well. Suddenly, it seemed as if Hauzu would fit in just fine in the lands, already it showed with how much he seemed to enjoy the sights.
"So..." she said softly after giving him a moment, as well as gaining her barings, "...shall we continue onward, Hauzu? We still have quite a walk ahead of us if we want to reach the dens by nightfall."
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Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 12:59 pm
Shaken from his awestruck state by Tisha's question, he snapped to attention and nodded. "Sure! Lead the way."
Zuri chuckled in his hear, amused by his charge having zoned out, but otherwise the snake was quiet again.
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