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 Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 8:51 pm
It had not been easy, but Manoari had, with time, accepted the fact that Kiraku was gone. He had also accepted the fact that, if the headstrong young lion had found his way to the Firekin, he would likely not live to see himself out of the desert.
It was horrible, it was difficult, it was heartbreaking, but Noari had accepted it. It was either accept the inevitable, or go crazy with wondering why, how, when. He had a family to attend to, a mate he loved deeply and cubs, though it had been a long time since they were cubs, that he adored. Noari couldn't let himself be engulfed by worry over one of several cubs.
Of course, that didn't mean the lion had pushed Kiraku out of his mind. How could he, how could any parent? He thought of him nearly every day, but put forth an effort to distract himself whenever it happened. He knew that otherwise, he might not be able to retain the acceptance he had mastered.
Noari laid in the sand, stretched out by the sea he had come to love. As usual, thoughts of his lost son plagued his mind. He closed his gray eyes, willing the thoughts to go away, to no avail.
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 8:56 pm
For the first few months that Kiraku had been on his own, he thought of his family every day, and usually not in a very positive light. He had thrived on that anger, that dislike that bordered on hatred. It had kept him going, even after his disasterous encounter with the Firekin lioness.
But, as he matured, as he realized the error of his ways, the thoughts didn't disappear. They merely took on a hugely regretful feel, a guilt that weighed in the pit of his stomach. How could he make amends? Would they even want to see him again, after how he had left?
Kiraku had to find out.
The lion had travelled a great distance to return to his seaside birthplace. By the end he was exhausted, but he kept going, refusing to stop until he found his destination. When the air took on a salty scent, he knew that he had made it.
Seeing his father caused such a forceful burst of emotions that Kiraku could hardly contain himself. The lion seemed aged somehow, smaller than Aku remembered - but then, he told himself, he himself had grown quite a bit since they last met. The thick-furred lion watched from some distance as his father rested in the sand, completely oblivious to everything around him.
He couldn't wait any longer. Kiraku rose, the ocean breeze tugging at his wavy mane. "Dad," he called softly, his voice almost a whisper. He took in a deep breath and raised his deep voice. "Dad."
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:01 pm
...Who was that?
Noari lifted his head, glancing around. The voice had clearly said 'dad', but it was a voice he didn't recognize. His nose twitched as he took in a deep breath, trying to pinpoint where it had come from. The scent that he caught took him by surprise, so much so that he wondered if he had fallen asleep, and was now dreaming.
But no, sure enough, there he was - several times larger than when they had last met, with a much more mature, weary expression - but Noari knew without a doubt that it was his son.
"Kiraku," he rumbled, not moving. Even though the evidence was right in front of his eyes, and there was a certainty in his heart, he was afraid to allow himself to believe it.
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:06 pm
"Dad?" Kiraku's voice dropped to a whisper once again, and he was struck with the overwhelming urge to run to the older lion, cling to him like a cub, but his paws were cemented to the ground.
He remained motionless for several moments until he regained control over his legs. Kiraku took a few nervous, almost hesitant steps towards Noari, and then suddenly all hesitation was gone and he raced forward, stopping only a couple of feet away from his father.
"I'm sorry," he said, dropping his gaze. "I'm so, so, so, so, so sorry. I can never make up for what I did, how I acted. But please, forgive me..."
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:18 pm
Noari stared at Kiraku in disbelief for several long moments, before finally moving.
He got up and threw himself at Kiraku, pinning his son easily to the ground. Noari leaned down over Aku's face, no hatred in his eyes, but certainly anger.
"What the hell have you been doing? Why didn't you come back sooner? Do you know how much we've worried about you? We thought you were dead! Do you know... do you have any idea..."
Shaking, Noari let the spotted lion back up, taking a moment to look him over. His son bore some serious scars, which he assumed was from his encounter with the Firekin. They were severe - he'd obviously bear them for the rest of his life - but he was alive.
"Tell me everything. What happened? Where did you go?" After a pause, he added, "Why did you come back?"
Noari shook his head. "You're alive. That's more than I could've ever asked for. Knowing that you're alive... there's no way I could possibly not forgive you. Oh, Kiraku."
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:25 pm
Kiraku went down without even a hint of struggle. Noari had every reason to be angry, furious at him - to hate him, even. He had hoped for forgiveness, but could not find it in himself to blame his father for wanting to hurt him instead, and so he closed his eyes and waited for it to come.
But it didn't.
He opened his eyes again and listened, then rose when Noari let him up. He listened some more, and felt an ache of relief at his father's words. How stupid of him, he thought, to think that Noari would hurt him. Even as a cold, vicious youth, Noari had never laid a paw on him. Why would he now? Kiraku felt a bit embarassed for expecting it.
"I... well, you already know, don't you?" He hated having to spell it out, but figured he deserved it. "I went to find the Firekin. I went to try and join them." He gestured toward himself with a paw. "You can see the result. I was injured - badly - but I wasn't killed. After that, there's not much more to tell. I wandered, I saw some things that made me re-evaluate who I am, and then..."
Well, there was something more to tell Noari.
"Then I met a lioness named Chacha. She's from a pride up in the mountains, so far away from here I don't have words to describe it. She was looking for an outside male to father her cubs, to help her pride, and I volunteered. I've been trying to help others ever since I... changed."
He paused. "But she told me more about her pride, and I decided that it sounded right. That surely it was fate that brought about our meeting. I decided to go with her back to the pride, but I told her that first, I had to come back here. Come home. Because I knew I couldn't leave without apologizing."
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:28 pm
It was a lot to take in all at once. So Kiraku did find the Firekin. Noari wished that his son hadn't had to learn that lesson the hard way, but as he continued his story, he began to feel that it was a good thing he had. It had taught him something that he had never learned here, in the quiet pride by the sea.
Noari couldn't help but widen his eyes at the next part. "Are you... going to be a father?" he asked. He couldn't really reconcile Kiraku with being a father - he seemed to have grown into himself, gained the maturity needed, but it would take time for Noari to see him that way.
"So you're leaving again," he said, and couldn't keep away the disappointment in his voice. Immediately he scolded himself silently. Kiraku was an adult, and it was foolish to assume he had come back to stay. "I mean... of course you are. I won't lie and say that I wish you would stay here, but it would be unspeakably selfish for me to ask that of you, when it's clear that you belong elsewhere."
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:40 pm
Kiraku couldn't help but look at his paws in embarassment. "I don't know yet," he said, scuffing at the sand. "I mean, eventually, yeah... but I don't think Chacha is pregnant yet..."
He was still surprised about the prospect of being a father, but oddly at ease with it. From what Chacha had told him, he wouldn't have to participate in raising the cubs, which was a relief. He would certainly want to spend time with them, but he wasn't sure he was fit to raise cubs properly on his own.
"I am," he said, looking back up at his father. "I don't belong here, although in some ways, I wish I did."
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:49 pm
"I wish you did, too, but if you feel that you don't, then you should go elsewhere."
It was difficult to say, but he believed it. He wanted Kiraku to be happy, and that had never happened here, by the sea. It sounded as though his son had made a decision - like he knew where he wanted to go, what he wanted to do and be. And that was enough for Noari.
"Travel safely, Kiraku, and please know that you'll always be welcome back here, should you choose to visit." He let out a soft purr, butting his head against Kiraku's in an affectionate manner.
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 9:53 pm
"Thank you, Dad," he murmured, returning the gesture with a small smile. It was bittersweet - he didn't want to part with his father again, but he was reassured that they were on good terms now, and that he had his father's blessing in his travels.
"Tell the others that I love them, will you?" he asked, rising to his paws. Then, without waiting for an answer, he turned and hurried away. Kiraku knew that if he stuck around for even a moment longer, he might not be able to leave... again.
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