[PRP] Oops. (Nkera, Sekhmet) - FIN

[Mogami]

Nkera made his way towards his den with slow steps, feeling tired and grouchy - only half of his usual state of mind. He grumbled a bit under his breath, not really paying attention to anything below his eye-level. His shift was over after he'd faced a rogue that had seriously lacked determination and Nkera had been left with the feeling that the challenge hadn't been worth his time and energy. He'd also seen a leopard and that always put him in a bad mood - it bothered him that there were so many of those creatures out there, right next to the border. Right now, all he wanted was to find some shade and take a long, well-earned nap.

He half-yawned, half-growled exuberantly, the loud sound carrying in the wind. Rolling his shoulders as if to release some tension, his slow steps turned into a light trot. Nkera snorted to himself. He needed to sleep soon and lazying about wasn't going to get him there, now was it?

AstoriaFallen

 

[Mogami]

AstoriaFallen

Nkera looked down at the young cub with a slightly tilted head. He didn't really know how to handle cubs but a greeting was greeting and its answer was simple enough. Hopefully, he could get away from her quickly because he really needed to get his weight off his legs.

"Hello." He returned, slowly. The cub was mostly black but she didn't seem terribly affected by the heat. Maybe it was because of those blue swirls on her black. Well, she wasn't going to be around for long then... "Where is your den? Shouldn't you be with your parents... Or training?" She was going to need it, after all.  

[Mogami]

AstoriaFallen

"I guard the borders. Keep the rogue lions away. And fight those who wish to enter." Nkera said, repressing a yawn. Belatedly, he realized maybe he shouldn't speak of his duties so much. After all, she was going to become one such rogue in the future, someone he'd have to keep away... He felt kind of bad for that. Splitting up a family because of something like coat color had always seemed odd to him. Especially when yellow cubs that could easily blend in the desert were sent away but black coats that absorbed the heat were considered a desirable trait. Even his white coat wasn't exactly considered ideal. Oh well, he wasn't planning on having cubs in the near future so he decide this wasn't really his problem.

He gave in to the notion that the cub wasn't going to tire of his presence soon and sat down. Politeness almost made him ask what she wanted to do in the future but he decided that it would be insensitive to do so in this case.  

[Mogami]

"Uhm, yes. It's important." Nkera said, very slowly. "Females can be Guards, too. They are just as strong. I've lost against several of them in combat."

His own mother had ben a warrior of his former pride so he held no notions of separate gender roles. He paused, briefly, to give de cub a proper look. From above, her blue swirls seemed all the more prominent. It didn't sound like her parents had already give her The Talk... well, The Firekin Talk.

"But you should focus on your training." He said at last even though he probably shouldn't. "You'll need it later when you're alone in the rogue lands."  

[Mogami]

AstoriaFallen

Oh, perhaps she hadn't been given that particular talk yet. But anyone with that amount of blue was bound to be drawing attention. She should probably be warned though, granted, it could be argued that such a revelation should be done by someone with some degree of social graces and a minimum of sensitivity which Nkera sorely lacked at times. And probably a family member.

"Well... you will leave eventually, won't you?" And as if to prove he could always find the stupidest thing to say around females - even one as tiny as this one - Nkera added. "I mean... you are a Huria."

 

[Mogami]

AstoriaFallen

So she really hadn't been given that particular Talk yet. The question was so direct that Nkera felt he could not in good conscience avert it even if he did have the sudden image of an angry mother berating him for his 'helpfulness'. But the cub had asked and, tired as he was, Nkera lacked the clear mind necessary to refuse the innocent inquire.

"The lions of this pride care very deeply about the color of one's pelt. If you look around, you will see that most lions are red, black or white, with few exceptions." He started, almost academically. "Huria are lions - and lionesses - who have unacceptable colors. If they are adults, they are not allowed to join the pride. If they're cubs born within, they are trained until they become adolescents but they can't stay."

He looked down at the cub and his eyes softened. She was so tiny still. Nkera had rarely been around cubs her age both in the Firekin and his former pride.

"They are not hated." Nkera added with an unusual gentleness. "But they must leave when they become strong enough to fend for themselves. Blue is not accepted so even if your pelt is mostly black, I assume you are a Huria." He braced himself for the reaction. He hoped she wouldn't wimper and cry. Oh Gods, he should've kept his mouth shut.  

[Mogami]

AstoriaFallen

lol, it happens. Last post, I think.

Nkera simply nodded, either to her bold declaration or to the warning of her departure - perhaps, both. He still doubted she would be in the pride a few months from now but it was hardly his place to say it and it gave him no pleasure to antagonize a cub.

"Go on, then." Nkera said quietly, offering the cub a parting nod before he turned to leave. He wouldn't believe he was allowed to rest until he was actually laying down in a den.