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 Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 2:46 pm
It was an oddity in itself that Mivu had not seen his dearest little sister in a while. When they had been cubs, the two had been inseparable: you could see his yellow shape and her white shape flittering across the savannah with joy and ease. They were always (usually, at least) adventuring together.
Now...it was much, much different.
They hadn't spent much time together when they were juves, or adolescents. And when they were finally all grown up and shooed out of the family den (not really; Mother and Father were always there with welcome arms), Mivu went his separate way, just as his sister did.
And he hadn't seen her much since, really.
Oh, he had met quite a few other characters, that was for sure. And now, he was visiting home more often because his little sister had been born, though Father was still off with the search party. He would be back soon, Mivu knew. His father was not going to allow Mother to be alone for too long, even with Mivu checking in on her every day.
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Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 2:54 pm
But as time passed and they each grew older, both lion and lioness grew apart. They changed,exploring who and what they were- as individuals. Most importantly, and most regrettably, they had drifted apart. Ekundayo spent less and less time at home, and more time out on her own. She rarely slept in the same place, and never hunted in the same area.
But as of late, she had been gravitating back towards her home. Towards the den where she was born. The path upon which she traveled just so happened to take her straight to Mivu. She hadn't seen him in ages To be honest, it was quite the shock to run into him, after so long!
"Mivu," she said his name quietly, unable to believe she was really seeing her big brother.
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Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 3:00 pm
He had been walking, contemplating (not much, really, for the now-grumpy lion didn't have much he'd like to think about) about a few things--including his new baby sister. Pya, was her name, and she was an absolute sweetheart. She reminded him so much of Dayo...
Then he heard his name, and he flicked his ear back. In complete surprise, he saw Dayo herself, standing there with an equally-surprised look on her face.
"Dayo?" he asked, almost hopefully. He wondered if his mind was playing tricks on him or something. It did that sometimes. Or was she a mirage? She didn't look...fake. But it made him angry, that she was choosing now of all times to come back home. She had been gone for so long--and was a good part of the reason that he was how he was, now--that he felt more likely to explode at her than welcome her back with open arms.
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Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 3:46 pm
Ekundayo hesitated. she lifted a forepaw with the intent to step towards her brother, no, bound towards him! But.. something. Something held her back. It was in the way he looked. He was not the little cub he had grown up with. But, then again, neither was she a little cub anymore. they were both grown up. Mivu looked.. strong. She scrutinized him carefully, observing as a play of emotions crossed his face.
Was he happy to see her? She wondered. She was happy to see him! Well, for the most part. Seeing Mivu also brought on a flood of guilt and regret; guilt at leaving her family so abruptly, and regret for not keeping in touch. She should have visited more often! She should have.. No. the past was the past. She couldn't change what had already happened, but Ekundayo certainly meant to begin mending bridges.
"Aren't you.. happy to see me?" She dared to ask, also daring to take a step closer to the lion. her brother. Her brother!
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Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 3:52 pm
Mivu should be happy that his beloved little sister had returned to him. She looked so grown up: beautiful. If she had a mate, oh, he was going to give that boy one helluvan interview...
That slight anger, even though it was mostly in a joking manner, brought on an onslaught of more anger. She had left. She hadn't even glanced back to them, but she had just walked off.
"Depends. Are you going to leave again, any time soon?" he shot back quietly, before he could stop himself and think about what he was saying. And who he was saying it to. Never in his life had he expected this reunion to happen like it was happening.
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Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 3:58 pm
she should have been happy, nay, ecstatic to see her big brother! But, he just had to go and ruin what could have been a happy, joyful reunion, didn't he? Ekundayo physically recoiled from his words as if she had been slapped. She took a step back from him.. then another. She looked confused. Why wouldn't he be happy to see her? It had been so long! Oh, all she wanted was to run to him and nuzzle, to romp and play like they had done when they were cubs!
Realization dawned on Ekundayo slowly. No matter how badly she hurt.. it was nothing compared to how she had hurt him by leaving. "Oh, Mivu," she breathed softly, taking two steps forward to negate the two back. "I can't tell you how sorry I am," she rushed out to explain but bit her bottom lip. "It doesn't matter. Can it change me leaving? Can anything I say or do make things different?" She snapped, on the brink of tears.
"No," the lioness said quietly, almost inaudibly. "I can't change my mistake, brother. But I am trying to fix them. Please, don't make this any harder," she begged him, meeting his gaze with clear, strong, big eyes.
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Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 4:23 pm
The look of hurt and betrayal (for that's what it was) on her face made Mivu drop his ears and tuck his tail between his legs. He felt ashamed for snapping at her, as he should be.
"No, but it sure would help me to hear you say you're sorry for leaving me behind," he almost yelled back at her, ashamed to be blinking back tears of his own. He wasn't sad. He was angry, he reminded himself.
"Do you know how I worried? When you first went off, when you first began to tease the line of the border of our home? I was broken that you didn't ask me to come with you. But I was stubborn, and I didn't offer to go with you. And I could have, but you didn't ask. And I didn't want to break my pride anymore than how you broke my feelings." This was the big reveal. His voice softened; his eyes closed for a moment before he continued, opening them, to meet hers.
"So now you come back, and you say you're sorry, but are you? I want you to say it so I know that you are. Because I'm sorry that I didn't speak up so long ago, and demand to know what the hell you were doing and why couldn't I come along."
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Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 4:42 pm
Ekundayo couldn't take it. she collapsed back on her haunches, shoulders slumping forward. she was physically and mentally exhausted- and they hadn't even really gotten beneath the surface yet! The lioness heaved a sigh, raising her head wearily to meet her bother's gaze. Each word hit her like a roughly thrown stone; it was surprising not to see blood staining her white coat. Ekundayo took a deep breath and tried to steel herself against her brother's words, tried to ignore some of the hurt. she knew she deserved it. All of it.
That was all he wanted? All Mivu wanted was to hear that she was sorry? Ekundayo lifted her head slowly to meet her brother's gaze, her expression a mix of confusion and shock. That was certainly easier than what she had had in mind! The lioness had anticipated a loud, drawn-out verbal fight, followed by a brawl (they used to fight as cubs, Dayo also kicked Mivu's a**!), and ending in a quick apology and forgiveness.
This would certainly save her some energy.
"Fahamivu'doa.. I ask your forgiveness. I am sorry, from the bottom of my heart. I should have kept you filled in, I should have asked you to come along. But.. the truth is, i didn't know where I was going, why I was going, or what I was doing. I just... went." Dayo looked her brother directly in the eyes as her apology left her in a great rush of words. She faltered a few times, but picked up and surged on, determined to mend this broken bridge.
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Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 5:37 pm
This was probably the most difficult thing he had done in his life. Ever. And he liked arguing. That was a side to him that Mivu had found joy in, almost. Getting a rise out of someone and having a verbal fight about it. It made him feel alive to know that he could outwit someone, or even outargue someone. He saw it as a skill.
But he liked fighting with strangers. Not family members.
So he took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and thought for a moment. Did they really need to fight like this? Did they need to really tear the rift between them even deeper and in-repairable? That would hurt even more than this was, and what had happened in the past.
Sometimes, you just have to put the past behind you (where he heard that from, he couldn't remember, but he thought it was important).
When he opened his eyes, he had the tiniest of smiles on his face.
"You know you'll have to think of a better excuse or something when you explain it to Mom and Dad, right?"
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Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 5:45 pm
All she could do was wait for his response. Her future relationship, or any chance at having one, depending on Mivu's reaction. Ekundayo could not explain herself any better. She really didn't have a good reason for running away. She wouldn't call it running away, but everyone else did. There was no way to avoid it. She had left to do some growing up, and to find out who she was.
Now that Ekundayo had grown into an independent adult, she was home. She knew who she was and could function totally on her own. Ekundayo didn't like to argue; she fervently hoped that Mivu accepted her words. For more than just her dislike of arguing! She couldn't stand it if Mivu didn't want her back in his life; her world wouldn't be whole again until her big brother was back by her side, supporting and protecting her.
Ekundayo found the courage to lift her head and meet his gaze, locking eyes almost as soon as his words left his mouth. The lioness couldn't help but grin.
"What do you think I should tell them?" She asked, giving her brother the chance to be her pillar of support. It was still too new to tell, but Ekundayo had a feeling she was successfully on her way to mending their relationship!
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Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 6:15 pm
If she had found out who she was, then that was good. She better have. She took enough time to do so, the yellow lion thought. As long as she had, though...then he supposed it would make forgiving her easier.
At her question, Mivu rolled his eyes at her.
"Pfft. Hell if I know. That's your problem, not mine, squirt," he teased, his smile growing. It had been a long, long time since he had said that word aloud. "You also know, of course, that they'll probably both start bawling when they see you. Mom more so than Dad." Naturally. Men never cried.
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Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 6:24 pm
It was still too early to be sure to know whether Mivu would accept any sort of affection from her. Ekundayo hesitantly took a step forward, her smile growing exponentially at his response. Squirt! He had called her squirt!
"Oh, brother.. I haven't heard that in ages!" She breathed her response quietly, almost afraid to point it out lest he never use her affectionate nickname again. But that was all the encouragement she needed! Ekundayo leapt to close the distance between herself and her big brother, nuzzling him fiercely, her head fitting snugly under his chin. She purred loudly, the sound rippling across her entire body.
"I don't care, I just want to see them!" Ekundayo gushed, turning her head up to meet her brother's eyes. "I've missed them.. I've missed all of you! Oh, Mivu, it was stupid of me to go. I mean, I feel like I had to do it, but I wish I hadn't!"
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