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 Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 7:07 am
-More and more of the family filtered in, and soon big brother Ai and his mate made their way into the little family group. Followed by big sister Choa too. Giving a pleasant nod, a soft purr began to resonate from the lioness. This wasn't so bad after all. All of them settled around together, in fact it was neat to be sharing the story as a family, and delicately her tail tip began to flip back and forth.-
"Hi Choa! I didn't know you were coming too." -Yawning suddenly, she gave a soft shiver to help her stay awake, before speaking softly as they awaited Tai's voice to overtake the area.- "What were you off doing before the call?"
-Xu started most certainly as the little one bumped into her, but no sign of real displeasure or warning sounded. In fact Xu's eyes seemed more terrified then anything, before suddenly she realized what had bumped her, and a soft laugh sounded directed at the little one.- "It's okay. It's getting a little crowded around here anyway. I'm surprised there isn't more bumping and pushing."
"Theres still some space right over here though, if you don't mind being towards the edge?" -She motioned gently to the little bit of space the seperated her family grouping from the next one. In fact there was space still for one Amesi's size, both by her, and her younger siblings.-
-Oblivious to how much both of her sisters didn't seem to want her there, Sara happily followed after Mzuzu's lead, offering the blue cub a pleasant and almost singsong greeting.- "Hi Kialio! I'm Sarakiva."
-Grinning widely she let the three step ahead of her and settle down, before finally coming to sit herself alongside Mzuzu as the space opened, tail curling delicately around her as she glanced from Tai to her littermates, musing pleasantly.- "She's right! I think this is the very best seat."
-Eyes settling on the white figure that rested above the rest of them, she let her voice fall softly, directed at the copper body alongside her.- "What do you think the story will be about?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 9:38 am
"Hello Ai, Choa, I'm glad you both came, your aunt seems a little nervous still." Ausi purred, rubbing her head against Ai in return before he settled down. "This is Kat, then?" Ausi smiled plesantly, looking to the brown lioness who seemed vaguely familiar, even beyond carrying her son's scent. "It's nice to finally meet the woman we've heard so many good things about." She spoke softly, only piping down when Tai began to speak.
Tai gave the large group another once over. It was such a large group, and to think that this wasn't even one quarter of the Prideland's current youth!
Her nervousness faded completely as she spotted virtually everyone from their happy little family there, still a few faces missing, but their numbers were so large already that she couldn't help but feel completely at peace. The tiny faces of her newest nieces and nephews were even among the crowd, and so many of her older ones had shown up!
"My my, it's certainly nice to see so many bright and smiling faces this morning! Well then... I thought that today I'd share one of my very favorite stories with all of you..."
A soft purr slowly rattled her chest in a subtle manner as the greeting faded, and with a delighted twinkle in the female's eye, she began the actual tale itself.
"This story is about the largest creature in our Kingdom, the Elephants. This is How the Elephant got his trunk." There was a small pause and a smile, giving Tai a chance to take in reactions, wondering how the little ones would react, if they'd be curious yet or look bored. It could decide entirely what direction of method she took with her storytelling. "Did you know that they didn't always have thier long trunks? In fact, they used to be even shorter than the anteaters!
"Well, there was one particular herd that consisted of three big brothers and their little baby brother. The big brothers didn't much like it when their mother left them to babysit," Tai frowned, emphasizing the point. "but they couldn't say no either. Their little brother just didn't realize how mean and grumpy his older siblings could be when it came to him, though. He worshipped the ground they stomped on! So, he never tried to make trouble for them when their mother was away. One day while the three big brothers were looking after him they had found some trees that were juuuust right for them to reach to eat from.
"'Oh, these leaves are delicious! And these berries are so sweet! You really should try some!' They teased, but of course, their younger brother was too small to reach that high!" Tai explained with a bit of distress, reaching out one foreleg to hold a paw above the ground, showing about how high the baby was from the ground, in her story. Her paw withdrew, and her voice shifted again plesantly, eyes glancing over the crowd. "'Big brothers, won't you give me some leaves and berries, please? They sound SO good, but I'm not tall enough to reach the branches like you are!' Their sibling asked nicely.... 'Hmmm, little brother, maybe you should try to find something smaller, and more your size! I'm sure there are more trees around here somewhere. We're all so big that there's barely even enough to go around between the three of us, so you'll just have to find your own.' The oldest said, while the other two snickered quietly. So... wanting to please his brothers and not be a bother, the little elephant just smiled and thanked them for their advice and went on his way."
It was obvious that the story was only just beginning, and Tai was already enjoying the telling of it.
In the pause she noticed more figures gathering behind the family, more familiar ones.
Jing'fei seemed a bit relieved that he hadn't missed the story already, coming up over the crest of the small slope that led to this area. His eyes widened quite a bit, oh, WOW, this was sure a big turnout! He saw about half of their family gathered in back while his aunt was seated slightly elevated above the crowd of cubs and juvinilles up at the front. Mosi wasn't far behind Jing, expressing that she'd wanted to visit, and some excersize at her stage of pregnancy was certainly more good than harm. So she seated herself near the back even if just for now, while Jing silently approached his family. He recognized his three remaining litter mates, and grinned. Sliding up on Ai's side and squeezing in to look down the row. "Hey Ai, mom, Xu, Choa, little bros and sis." He whispered quietly enough that it wouldn't distract from Tai's speaking. His eyes glanced to Kat lingeringly for a moment and he smiled, sitting up then to silently nudge Ai in question, brow raising. They should talk later. He could smell the lioness' scent on his dark brother's, and vice versa. Had Ai gone and found himself a girl? Jing would've been glad for his brother, to hear it if so. For now though, he didn't want to interrupt.
Ayato kept his seat besides Tete and Lio and the royal litter, not seeming to mind or really.... notice that no one he had called had heard him. They had all found seats, and the story was starting! Finally! Aha! He knew it was going to be a good... one? How the Elephant got his trunk? It didn't sound like the stories that their mother usually told, about gods or dangerous crocodiles, or lions and mice? Well, he trusted her, and if she picked this then it must've been for a good reason. "Where are Tui and Chaka and Zira and Udha? They're gonna miss the whole story!" He whispered under his breath to Tete.
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 10:14 am
Safuma supposed that now was as good a time as any to spend with her sister, as atleast with Tai telling a story the little cub wouldn't be able to speak much. For a moment Safu wondered just how long Sarakiva would be able to stand the attention not being on her before Safu herself was wrapped into the story. Elephants hadn't always had their trunks? Safu hadn't seen many elephants yet in her short lifetime, but she knew they'd look pretty silly without them. Her brow furrowed as she listened, muttering under her breath, "Why doesn't he just climb on top of them?" It was the quiet, frustrating musings of a cub too young to know better. She knew that climbing over siblings was a good way to get to other things, but she didn't understand that it didn't always work that way. Scooting forward a little bit, she wrapped her tail around her body and shifted her weight from one paw to the other without noticing, completely engrossed in the story.
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 11:46 am
Vinaya had mixed feelings about going unnoticed. In a sense it was a relief, for she didn't want to make a fool of herself or any such thing. But it also made her notice how easily everyone just seemed to drift off into group and leave her...well, on her own. He mother and father hadn't even noticed her arrival. And since it seemed like she'd have to wade thorugh numerous other lions and children to get to them she...decided to hide in the back. So she ducked down behind the nearest lion or lioness. She only perked herself high enough to see Tai, especially when she began to tell the story. Vinaya really wanted to hear it...she had always wondered why an elephant had a trunk, after all.
Jini quickly got himself out of the way, since many people seemed to want to adress Tai for one reaosn or another. He settled himself along the side, keeping a careful eye on all the children that were around. Wow, they moved around a lot! But as the story started everything settled down and he felt a little more relieved. His job was a bit easier now.
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 11:51 am
 Coming up to a large gathering of lions, Nariko's curiousity was piqued to say the least. Large, green eyes were wide with wonder as he slowly made his way towards the group. Slightly abashed about the new faces, he didn't know any of them. Quietly, as to not disturb anyone, he settled down close to the other lions, with his green eyes on the white lioness and her story. He wanted to so much to hear the story so he quietly gave his attention to the white storyteller.
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 12:40 pm
Yen HaHe stood behind his mother's foreleg, blinking his great, smoky eyes at the strangers all around him. His ears twitched and for a moment he seemed lost, then finally he settled, turning his head towards the white lioness.
The story filtered into his head and as he tried to make sense of it the little cub could not help but wonder what it was truly about. He wouldn't like it if his brothers bullied him like that!
Yen Ha was a small cub for his age, with rather fluffy looking fur. He also looked rather dainty, but that didn't bother him.
He opened his mouth to urge on the storyteller, but decided against it, rubbing his face against his mother's foreleg.
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 12:54 pm
Kat had moved to where Ai had sat after he bumped his head against her back. She flicked her tail, watched as so many seemed to come here! It was unbelievable! SO many were talking to Ai too, she listened in on the conversations, more like greeting to others, and she saw so much of his family arrive. Sisters, brother, mother, his Aunt Tai was telling the story. Unbelievable how big his family was, and she felt a bit small compared to the rest.
But this was nice, Tai had such an interesting voice and the cubs and others all around seemed to enjoy this sort of thing, she did as well. Smiling she tried to pay attention, though every now and then she playfully flicked her tail to touch Ai's and pretended she hadn't done such a thing.
When she heard another speak and address her, Kat's eyes fell on that of a darker pelted lioness, looking very much like Ai, and she silently gulped, his mother? She offered her a smile and nodded, "So nice to meet you too," she said in a whisper, she didn't want to disturb the others and interrupt the story at all.
Kat also offered Ai's larger white pelted with golden accented brother a smile and turned her eyes again to Tai.
So many she wanted to meet now!
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 2:36 pm
"That's correct, mother. This is Kat." He confirmed, leaning to one side a bit as his brother nudged him, lifting a paw to bat back at him, out of habit, before taking Kat's side and discreetly leaning against her.
Discreetly meaning that anybody who knew the littlest bit about him would totally know he was sweet on her (if their intermingled scents weren't enough....). The dark lion looked to Kat, tilting his head a bit, before nudging her a bit and whispering. "You don't need to feel overwhelmed by them all, Kat. Last I checked, they don't bite." he noted, before looking back to Jing and lifting a brow.
Dang right he was showing her off... kinda.
The story was, by far, interesting to Ai, whom had never considered the thought of an elephant with a short trunk. It was almost... well, it was an interesting thought, he'd agree.
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 3:08 pm
Little Lio was completely enveloped in the story Tai was telling, his eyes wide with interest. He didn't look away from her, or even blink it seemed, the entire time she spoke.
When she paused, Lio grinned happily, questions rushing through his head. But he pushed them away, knowing that like any good story, the answers would come at the end.
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 4:51 pm
Mzuza was about to answer her sister's question when Tai began her story, and so she shut her muzzle again and leaned forward to listen. Even just sitting down, she seemed to be sitting much straighter than other cubs. Much better posture, or something that her mother had said once.
Tai's story enveloped the copper princess, so that all thoughts of sisters or blue friends disappeared, only to be replaced by an image of the story. She could almost see the baby elephant right before her, trying in vain to reach at the delicious berries and leaves (although how such junk could ever be delicious was beyond her), and the meek smile on his face when he truned to leave.
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 5:34 pm
Tetemeko sat happily beside Ayato, a wide smile on his face as Tai told an unfamiliar story. He was a little surprised to hear it, but quickly decided that she obviously had to have a new and exciting one for such a big group! He was hanging off her every word when he heard Ayato suddenly whisper about his brothers and sister. Meko had not even realized they were not around!
"I don't know," he answered in a hushed voice, so as not to disturb the story. Unfortunately, he was not so thoughtful as he stepped up to take a good look around the group- ending up infront of a couple of the cubs on the other side of Ayato. Meko barely noticed them, since he was certain that they were not the ones they were looking for.
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 8:00 pm
"Awwwww..." -A sound of childish empathy, perhaps a little louder then it should have been sounded from the young one as the elder brothers taunted the little one. And when the story paused, she was quick to pipe up, though quieter this time, only drifting through the small group.- "I'm glad Safuma and Akida aren't mean like that! Poor little elephant."
-Casting her eyes briefly around she caught some of the stragglers, even her arranged mate made an apperance, though she was oblivious to his indentity. And quickly she turned once more to stare at Tai, waiting for the story to unfold.-
-And then Jing was there, and Tai's voiced piped up. Quieting quickly, she turned her eyes and ears forward with interest.
The story was about elephants? She hadn't seen very many in her life, nor ever really talked to one. But she bet the story was more then just about elephants, and as her aunt continued, it became clear that it was. Gently she let herself be drawn into the story. She was afraid to close her eyes, so instead she lifted them upwards, letting the story play out on the puffy clouds above her.
She could almost see the brothers. Big fat clouds huddled together, a smaller one trailing along behind.-
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 8:33 pm
Amesi stood still for a while longer, simply blinking up at the older female. She was so beautiful! She wondered at the feel of the fur, and how it had felt when she had bumped into it. So soft..
Her black ears swiveled at the sound of Tai's voice, rising up over the group. She was starting the story! And this pretty female in front of her, she was saying there was enough room beside her for the little juvenile to squeeze in for the length of the story. Instantly her blue eyes lit up and she bounced excitedly on her paws.
"I'd like that very much!" she managed to muster, though she attempted to keep her voice down. She wasn't listening so much to the going ons, and so she didn't want to interrupt.
Quickly, she scrambled forward and took her place beside Xu, sitting promptly and lifting her head proudly to look up at the other with a big smile on her face. "Thanks!" she whispered, before turning her attention towards Tai the storyteller. The journey of the tale had already begun, and she found it easy to slip into the happenings.
A little elephant being bullied by his brothers because of his size? That was horrible! Having been rather small for her age as it was, Amesi felt a strong, instant connection. No one had ever really bullied her, but she could imagine what it must be like. She did, after all, try harder in everything she did so that she would never fall short. Being small was a great disadvantage at times.
Listening more intently, interested in the story, she leaned forward slightly and strained her ears. Just the beginning and already she was caught!
Ashki simply rumbled contentedly where he sat beside his mate, finding the story interesting. He couldn't wait to hear more, as tales such as these had always caught his interest. During his time as a slave, he had always chosen work close to the storytellers so that he could overhear legends and theories such as these.
It was a thrill to be hearing them again.
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 8:58 pm
The children's responses were more than a little encouraging, so Tai continued the story, eyes trailing silently after Tetemeko for a moment, then her audience again.
"The little elephant traveled for what felt like forever before he finally spotted a tree up ahead. It grew right alongside of a deep river, so it's roots were nice and strong from all the water and sunlight, and it's branches seemed to grow in every direction! There were even some branches that looked like they might just be low enough for the little one to reach! His brothers would be so proud that he managed to find food all on his own, and there was more than enough to go around! He thought: 'Maybe I'll bring some back for my brothers, I bet that would make them and mom really happy, then I could show them where I found them and we could come back here together!'. So, the little elephant headed for the great big tree.
"But wouldn't you know it, even when he stood on his tippy toes he couldn't get to the lowest branch! There were some monkies up in the tree that were watching him, and they just laughed. 'Silly little elephant, you're much too small to get the fruit from our tree!', they laughed.
"'I'm so hungry! Those leaves and berries look so good, and I wanted some to take back to my brothers!' The elephant cried. He was making such an awful racket! Thought the monkies... they didn't like all the noise he was making, but he didn't listen when they tried to tell him to stop, so they climbed all the way to the top of their tree so they could ignore him from there instead. That's when the little elephant heard a voice call over! It said: 'There's no need for all those crocodile tears... Why don't you tell me why you're so upset?' Well... he looked left, and he looked right, and looked behind him and above him, wondering who was that talking? It was coming the river! He'd never heard water talk before! 'How strange!' he thought out loud. He didn't even notice the strange log floating along until a pair of yellow eyes opened up and stared right back at him.
"'Water can't talk, it's me! I live in this river, and I heard you making all that noise! So tell me what's the matter.' So... the little elephant, frustrated and dissapointed, told the stranger all about his situation. The stranger listened, and listened, and when finally the story was done, he said: 'That's terrible! I'd be happy to help you out, little boy. Why don't you come a little closer and I'll tell you how you can get to those berries and leaves.'
"So who do you think that stranger was...? He wasn't really interested in helping the little elephant with getting food for his brothers, nooo... He was just interested in feeding himself. You see, what that little elephant didn't know was that the stranger he was talking to was actually a hungry crocodile. He'd been living in that river for years! He knew exactly how to catch his food without even having to work for it. He'd wait until someone came alongside his river, and he'd lure them over, and then he'd grab them and pull them in where he could move his fastest! So he was as excited as a bluebird! He just watched the elephant came closer, and closer, and closer..." She whispered, leaning down closer to the edge of the rock with each word spoken growing softer. "... and then he jumped out and grabbed him by his little snout! And you know that really hurt! The little brother shouted, he was so confused, how was this supposed to help him get those leaves? 'Please, stop! You're hurting my nose!' Pleaded the elephant, but the crocodile just grinned, he wouldn't let go. 'I can't do that, you're going to be my special guest at dinner tonight!' The poor elephant didn't know what to do, he kept crying for help and pleading with the crocodile to let him go, but no matter what he said or how loud he cried he couldn't get loose... but you know what else? The crocodile couldn't pull him in either! Little elephants aren't that little. They weigh a lot. So all he had to do was dig his feet down into the dirt and sit backwards, and he would barely budge even the tiniest little bit!"
Ayato whispered for Tetemeko to come back, but he was already off looking for their 'siblings', but he was already headed off, Ayato sighed quietly and shot the others apologetic looks, then quickly slunk off after his younger brother during the pause, as low as he could so he wouldn't disturb the story.
Once he caught up with Tete, he pinned his tail down with one paw and then moved around in front of the little guy, whispering. "It's okay Tete, we'll just tell them what happened later. Let's just sit down and listen to the story."
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 9:23 pm
Verdad listened intently, sighing happily as the story continued. One day she hoped she would be able to tell stories as dynamically as the white lioness they sat before. Soon, she began to wind her own story around the small elephant. A soft chuckled escaped her muzzle at watching the cubs interact.
At least most of them listen. They should.
She drew her tail closer around her and leaned heavily to her side against a soft expanse of bush. Something to lean on while listening to a story was a rather good thing especially when one was lost in it.
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