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 Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 10:16 pm
Mtima's smile was just enough to keep Mfuto together. This was the first time he'd so much as spoken Uten's name since Uten left. He didn't want to talk about it, and Alana didn't want to either, and Heu barely even remembered him by now... so there was no point bringing it up. But Mfuto desperately wanted to understand. He hoped that in this goddess he could find some answers... or at least some peace.
Or other reasons? Mfuto's ears drooped. What other reasons could she mean? The calico lion pondered the situation, but he couldn't fathom any other explanation except a wilted soul. "Is jus'..." he murmured falteringly. "Is jus' that... when I was with Uten... Uten always really seemed to likes havin' me 'round... lookin' after me an' stuffs... an' we was like a li'l family. Which was good... 'cause neither of us hads families of our own or nothin'. Was jus' Uten, an' Mag, an' me." He spoke these names conversationally, with no regard to the idea that Mtima would have no concept of who they were. But it didn't occur to Mfuto to explain. "But when Uten was with Alana, an' with Heu, he always seemed so sads... an' then one night he says he dun wanna be with thems no more, an' he wantsted me t' go withs him... but..." He hung his head. "I couldn't. I dun understands why Uten could loves his fake family so muches, an' not loves his real family." When he raised his eyes again, they were wide and wet and shimmering, and his lips trembled. "Families is the most a'portent things in th' world! I should know, I hasn't hads a real one in a loooooooong time."
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Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 7:11 pm
Mtima's smile did not waver even once when it was obvious that Mfuto was having a hard time with what she was saying. Perhaps it would have been better to leave it at rotted souls, but there was always the fact that some good creatures did not-so-good things. She listened attentively to his story, trying to make as much sense out of it as she could for herself so she could offer whatever feelings she could to the poor lion. The goddess didn't need to know anything about those he mentioned, making her own connections between all the names mentioned.
"I'm sure he loves his family, both of them," she said carefully, thinking about how she had left her own family despite her very strong love for them- though certainly Uten was not in the same situation. There were different kinds of love, surely he would not have hated his family.
"Sometimes good lions will do bad things, sometimes it doesn't make much sense," she said sadly, stepping closer, "It sounds to me like you've had a family, and like you have one now. You obviously care about Alana and Heu, or you wouldn't have stayed with them. That sounds like family to me."
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Posted: Mon May 28, 2007 7:41 pm
Mtima's mere presence was ceaselessly comforting to Mfuto, let alone her constant smile and her listening ears. It was just good to have someone kind and warm and open about him. He spilled out the contents of his heart and worried mind to her, and then he listened well to what she had to say.
He gasped and grew still at Mtima's words. This was unlike anything he had expected to hear. He had supposed that Uten was steadily going the way of the lady who had given Mfuto his scar--gone the way of evil. To suppose that all was not lost was not something Mfuto was ready for. He pondered this a bit, then hesitatingly questioned, "Does... does you really thinks Uten still loveses us?" That was the only thing that had truly gotten through to him. He felt his heart flutter at this, and he wondered why tears still dripped from his eyes now when he no longer felt the sadness he felt before.
He had never cried for happiness before.
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Posted: Mon May 28, 2007 8:57 pm
"What do you think, Mfuto?" she asked, "You know Uten, do you think he would ever really hate you?" It was a simple response, almost covering her steps for whatever reality might oppose her words. She could offer pretty words and reassurances, but she could not say for sure what was going on with this now estranged friend. If nothing else, it made her happy to know she'd at least seemed to have a positive effect on the poor lion.
She sighed noticing his tears, though they did not seem sad it was still something she took as a sign of being overwhelmed, even just a little. Taking another step closer, Mtima gave him a nuzzle the equivalent of a friendly hug. It seemed the most appropriate action for such a situation, words could only take you so far.
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 12:08 pm
Mfuto shook his head hard, mane flapping about and wetness flying from his eyes. "Nuh uh," he said. "I dun thinks he woulds. But... is not me I's worried 'bout. Is Alana. An' Heu. I dun want Uten to hates Alana an' Heu. 'Cause... 'cause... mah daddy an' my mommy died when I was li'l... so I thinks Heu should haves a daddy an' a happy mommy." He swallowed here a little, trying to supress a fresh wave of sadness. That was the root of the problem, right there. Mfuto could neither fathom nor forgive the way Uten had taken off on his family, when family was all Mfuto ever wanted.
He was a bit startled when Mtima went in to nuzzle him. Having been attacked, unprovoked, not long ago had left Mfuto a little jumpy. But he relaxed when he realized a nuzzle was all it was, and he returned it with enthusiasm. He purred a little and, upon withdrawing, looked the goddess over and commented with a shy smile, "Missus Mattie-ma, you reminds me a lots of my mommy."
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 1:32 pm
Mtima smiled and took a seat comfortably in front of the young lion, she wasn't surprised to hear that he was worried about Alana and Heu.
"They have you," she pointed out with a small laugh, it seemed to her an obvious answer to what he was saying even if he wasn't the father or even necessarily a father figure in his own opinion, "You care about them, even if Uten is not there, Heu has you."
When he suddenly said that she reminded him of his mother, she smiled fondly and had to surpress a sadness she felt over her own leaving her family. Her cubs were grown and becoming more independant, they had their mother while they grew up and that mattered most. She had unique reasons for what she did. The way Mfuto was so concerned with family, and was so kind and gentle.. it reminded her a bit of Wahabu.
"And you remind me of my son," she replied quietly.
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Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 1:59 pm
Gradually, Mfuto felt the sadness that had been posessing him so long fade and drift away. For the first time in a while he felt needed, loved... and his heart swelled with pride. They needed him, just as much as he needed them. He never thought of it that way before... that he could be their Uten. He laughed aloud and held his head high with his newfound pride. "YAAAAAAAAAAAY!" he cried. "I's a'portent!" He simpered at the goddess and bowed to her. "I promises I's gonna take good cares o' them."
And he picked his head back up and looked the goddess in the eyes. So he reminded her of her son, hm? "Wull... if'n yer son's anythin' likes me," Mfuto said, "I's sure he loveses you verrah much, no matta what." He nodded rapidly. If her son reminded her of him, then this must be true... that's what Mfuto believed.
But the calico lion could no longer contain himself and his new sense of responsibility. He looked about himself wildly, then cried, "I's gonna go find Alana an' Heu and checks on them!" He hopped to his feet and waved a paw eagerly at the goddess. "Bye-bye, Missus Mattie-Ma! Thankies much!" he hollered, then bolted off into the jungle, a wake of leaves flying up behind him.
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Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 3:00 pm
Mtima was surprised but pleased with Mfuto's reaction to her pointing out that his family had him, even if they did not have Uten. She beamed when he promised to take good care of them, his family. It was a lovely thing to say, and she had no doubt that he would do just as he said.
"That's good, I'm sure you'll take wonderful care of them," she said confidently, and couldn't hide a somewhat sad smile at the mention of how much her son must love her. It was another truth she'd never doubt, at least not before she left. Hopefully Wahabu did not resent her so terribly..
"Goodbye, Mfuto," she called after him as he hopped away eagerly, seeming a good deal happier than he had been before. It felt nice to be of some help, and she hoped that it would all work out well for the lovable calico lion. With a smile on her face and feeling somewhat more cheerful herself, Mtima headed back off into another part of the jungle herself.
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