|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 7:39 pm
"Me? Why, the whole world is mine, Juke. The whole world," She said with a chuckle. And it was true, for in her fascination with in leaves, she had learned the value of the entire world, and everything meant something to her. The smallest speck, the thinnest blade of grass. Everything was hers and hers alone, for she knew in her heart that nothing would ever hold a love for the world that would rival hers.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 7:57 pm
For one who seemed to love so much so grandley, Juke had to wonder if she had any more room in that heart of hers. Was it so big that it could accept into it new things, along with the old? Or was it cramped in there, far too crampt to allow family or a mate. That would be rather sad, wouldn't it? Not being able to dish out anymore love... He just couldn't imagine an exitense like that.
Wanting to turn his mind from such a depressing topic, he switched over to the ever present thought of prides. He was goriwng more soft on the idea of finding one to settle in, but he had yet to find one to his liking. Perhaps that swamp pride? "Do you wish you were in a pride, Muujiza?" He smiled, wanting to get the conversation moving in that direction. Perhaps she could suggest which clan he should join.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 8:05 pm
It seemed as if something was on Juke's mind, but the lioness didn't ask. She studied him carefully, tilting her head gently sideways with a small smile. He was more like her than was obvious, and yet, she could feel that they were quite different. She could understand that. But only a little.
"A pride?" Muujiza came out of a small trance as fluidly as one blinked an eye. The change between her trance and her present was so seamless that perhaps she had not been in one at all. She paused to consider the question. "Sometimes I do, Juke," She said after the moment had passed. "When the sun sets and the stars are dim and the moon hides from the world. Then, I do, for without the moon at night, there is only loneliness. But I do enjoy wandering, that's for sure.
"And you, Juke? What about you?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 8:18 pm
"I'm more keen on the idea now than I have been." It had taken much thought to get to this point, as there were pros and cons for both remaining a rogue and joining a pride. On one hand, he had absolute freedom out here to dance around large savannahs and hunt whatever herds he wished. On the other hand, he was lonesome at times, and had absolutely no family. Plus, raising cubs, which was ultimately the goal of almost every breathing creature, would be hard out here. It was a rough and tough kind of life, living on your own, and being without a pride would be rather difficult if he and his future mate didn't have the support and back up of a strong group. Hunting would become ten times more complicated, as there would be just one hunting for many, and care would be exauhsting. Worst of all, the stress could make him loose touch with the music! That would be simpley awful.
Casting a gaze out in the direction of the swamp pride territory, he sighed. It was either there or the Pridelands, he mused. The Pridelands were far more likely, however, as he had an open invitation to join there from a particularly pleasant maned wolfess. She was a member, and had been eager for him to join. He had to turn her down though, having wanted to find a lovie before making any radically life changing decisions such as joining a pride. "I'm considering the swamps or the Pridelands, but I think I'd like to find myself a mate before joining."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 8:25 pm
"Oh? What made you change your mind?" Muujiza asked him, interested. She had never quite considered the matter deeply before, and her mind was spinning with thoughts as to whether or not joining a pride would do her any good. She had never considered the fact that her life would be only that much easier, and that any loneliness she might have felt as a rogue would vanish in the presence of others.
She followed his gaze, wondering. It was the swamp pride's territory, she had heard. Her gaze flickered back to Juke. "Why is that?" She asked. "Why find a mate before joining a pride?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 8:46 pm
There were so many factors that had made him change his mind, it would take at least a day for him to describe it all to the lioness. He tried to think of a way to condense it all into something... logical. "Well, I dunno, really. I sort of like the idea of a big family atmosphere. And life would be easier in a pride, don't you think?" He smiled a little, knowing that every creature liked to get a little lazy on some days. A pride would allow that, he imagined, as there were so many members. "Plus, being around others more often would be nice. It gets so lonely out her in the roguelands sometimes..." He gave a weak smile. Freedom was one thing, but going days before contact with others could sometimes be near unbearable.
As for the whole mate deal, he really wasn't sure. Perhaps it would be better to find someone in a pride? It had just always seemed to him that he would find a rogue lioness someday and they would agree on a pride to move into. But was that not the way? Now he had to second guess himself. "I'm not really sure... It just... Seemed like the right thing to do, I guess."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:37 am
"Well, I guess so," She said doubtfully. She wasn't big on a family atmosphere, but he was right about contact with others. There were days when she wondered if she were the only lion left alive, and others when she yearned for the company of other creatures that were not vultures or hyenas. The only thing worse than a scavenger was a cowardly scavenger. So thought Muujiza. Perhaps she was wrong though. Perhaps there were more scum more hateful and obnoxious than the giggling 'yenas. She didn't know, and she most probably never would know.
She smiled, sensing his self doubt. "I just had to ask," She told him with a gentle nod. "I think it's the right thing to do too. Lions born into a pride are coddled to begin with. With a rogue... at least a rogue lioness wouldn't need quite as much as a pride lion. Or at least that's what I think." She smiled wryly. "Shows how highly I think of prides."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 1:35 pm
The doubt in her voice truely confused Juke. Perhaps she was much like all the other rogues? Antisocial and yearning for independancy? Once again he had to wonder if the green lioness really did have room for any love in that heart of hers. Perhaps she just didn't like the idea of constantly being around others? There were ways to avoid being bothered in prides, surely. Maybe she just needed some coaxing. "Would there be a reason to your dislike of prides?" He didn't mean to be rude with the question at all, and his voice was still as friendly as ever. He was just simply trying to understand it. Now that he had grown fond of the idea of belonging to something like a grand pride, he had lost the ability to look at the subject from another viewpoint.
"I was thinking that finding a rogue might also help me with joining a pride and all, as I'd have someone to go through it all with me." He smiled, thinking of how a perfect relationship could work out. Of course, in the back of his mind he knew that there was no such thing as a perfect relationship, and that most rogue lionesses weren't as much of affection fans as he was. It was more than likely that he would spend his mated days showering his female with love, while she just gentley batted it away, not needed to be shown such a deal of affection. To others, that might seem amusing. To Juke, it would be confusing, but worth it if said lioness was the right one.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 5:51 am
Muujiza smiled and shook her head gently, more a gesture out of habit than anything. "I'm a rogue, Juke," She reminded him with a small shrug. "I was raised with the impression that pride lions had it all easy, and once I got out on my own... well, that impression only deepened." She paused. "You see a herd stampeded in the distance and you just know that there's five or six lionesses on a couple beasts' tails and they're more than likely to get a kill. They all work together, it helps 'em, sure, but they don't know what it's like to struggle through life on their own. They have it all kitted out for them, their own oasis and all. What they don't know is that not every single lion out there lives life like them. They just take things for granted.
"But hey, what do I know, right?" The green lioness added with a meek smile. She listened silently to the steel blue lion's words, nodding her agreement. Yes, perhaps a rogue mate would be best for a rogue looking to start a family and make the adjustment from being a rogue to life with a pride. It certainly sounded right. "I think you're right," She said softly. "It would be easier. Neither would have to take to adjusting alone. It's never good when one doesn't understand the other's feelings."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 3:09 pm
These were very valid points that the lioness had been bringing up, and he listened with interest. His thoughts used gto be as such, until he thought that he would enjoy being able to see others when he wanted to, as opposed to having to search out company for a few days. Not only that, but the hardships that would face a mated lion in a rogue setting would be at least minimized in a pride, and his future cubs would have a better chance of reaching adulthood. "This is all true, I admit. I used to think of pride cubs as spoiled little things." He thought back to his mother's bitterness towards the simple idea of a pride, but let it slip without much more thought. "It would, however, be nice, don'cha think? Out here, it's rough and tough. There it's... safe. I want my future cubs to be safe." He spoke solemnly, and gave a little nod when he was complete, as if to confirm it was the way he felt. Though he was sort of thinking a bit far ahead with the whole cub thing, it often did end up in the minds of many lions even before they chose mates, did it not?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 4:03 pm
Perhaps he was right, perhaps she was just being too close-minded in her unwillingness to see the good that could come from living in a pride. "I guess so," She agreed. It would be easier on the cubs, and perhaps easier on the parents. "But in the end, if the cubs are ever forced onto their own, it would be difficult for them to adapt. In that way, their chances of mortality are higher.
"But perhaps you are right, maybe the cubs never would be forced onto their own. Maybe they would be safer." She nodded slightly, as if in deep thought. Yes, there could be a chance he was right. After all, prides did go to quite a lot of trouble just to keep their cubs safe. With so many grown lions around, it would be much safer for them, whereas with rogue parents, the two mother was more or less on her own.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 4:32 pm
He did find it a bit strange that without he even speaking, Muujiza could convince herself of his side of the arguement. It was something special about her, an ability that she held all to her own. A warmth came over him as he thought of how unique this green lioness was, a warmth he wasn't sure of. He hadn't really felt it before, and quickly shook it off to the beat of nature, dismissing it without much thought at all. Instead, he only voiced his findings with a smile and faraway look. "You're a special lioness, Muujiza."
Looking off into the savannah, he watched a small group of klips move about in the slowly dying heat. It was just past the peak of the sun, and still quite warm out of the shade, but it had become bareably. He had no intentions of leaving anytime soon, however, and would much rather stay under the leaves and in the company of the pleasantly spacey Muujiza.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 8:41 pm
Her mind had been on the brink of wandering when he spoke. You're a special lioness, Muujiza. And for some reason, those simple words seemed to send a shock of... something... through her, and she felt a warm flush creeping up her ears. How it was that Juke could make her feel embarrassed, yet warm and fluffy inside while no other lion ever could was a mystery to her. How he could do things that seemingly no other lion could, or would. Perhaps it was the music.
She was silent for a moment, letting his words sink in. Then, "Thanks, I- I mean, I'm not the only special one around here." She smiled and looked away to the horizon, she too watching the klips as they moved about. Right then, she felt contentment sweep over her, and knew that at least for how, she was happy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 8:53 pm
It was true, what she had said. There were special lions and lionesses about the rouge lands. But she was far more special than any of them. "But you're...unique." He smiled and surveyed the klips once more, growing interested in their habits. He had always imagined them far better companions than meat, though he wouldn't spend much time with one. He was more fond of the little severals and other beasties that roamed the savannah, the tiny carnivores that took what the lion did not. There was nothing wrong with there herbivores, of course, it was just the lion's general taste. Flicking his tail steadily, he viewed them with wandering thoughts of prides and mates and friends and cubs. And all the while, he thought a little of Muujiza. She wasn't the affectionate lioness he had always pictured, but she was... wait a minute. He wasn't seriously considering? No, it was far to early. For now, he'd watch the klips.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:01 pm
"You know, Juke, I never thought of myself as unique. Maybe you're right, maybe not. But you really are unique." She said softly. How she managed to say so evenly she would never know. But she knew what she meant, and she knew for certain that he was, indeed, a unique lion.
She watched him and followed his gaze to the klips. "What is it about them?" She heard herself ask. He seemed so interested in them, and yet, while she did see some small interest in them growing, she wondered what it was about them that seemed special.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
