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 Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 11:45 am
Baala jogged up a few steps to take the lead, heading right back to the place she had earlier abandoned. It was on the outskirts of the jungle that she had met her first lion since her mother's death, and untrue to Kiuma's thought, Baala had not bonded so much with the lion that she refused to leave his side. There was a place in the world that Baala was searching for, and it was not with Muroki and the pride he had settled down with. Oh, she liked Muroki well enough, and even considered him a friend after their short meeting. Baala had even, for a few moments, entertained the notion of living life with him in the pride. It was a picture that she quickly got out of her mind. She was a wanderer, and somehow that jungle had not called out to her. For a short time she would hang around it, but eventually she would leave, and probably never come back.
"The jungle is not the wisest of places to get lost, and I'm glad to offer you any assistance that you need." But, after that, Baala would probably leave. She wanted to stay, for some absurb reason, with Kiuma. Already she was becoming attached to the red lioness, either from her display of strength in body and mind, or either from some sense that Kiuma was alone, and thus needed someone. The only sure way that Baala would leave was if Kiuma wanted her gone. She would never stay where she was unwelcome.
Reaching the end of the jungle, she paused for the briefest of instances, before leading Kiuma into the thick brush.
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:08 pm
Kiuma's heavy shoulders rolled as she padded after the young lioness, red eyes falling a moment to the swinging tail before flicking up to scan the surroundings. One must always be alert in an unfamiliar place... you never knew what might be waiting for you behind cover.
Her breath came easier as she stepped into the shade behind Baala, feeling the leaf-shade slip over her hide like a carress. The red lioness felt infinitely better here and she raised her nose to scent the air, testing for the water that must be near. She smelled... green things. Not the green things she could smell at home, the dry grass that was life, but a wet, heavy greenness, thick with mold and things that both lived and died under the protective branches. Round ears perked, swiveling to catch the many sounds of the jungle. That was different than home too... it wasn't nearly this noisey with the calling of birds and animals she couldn't put a name to.
"How long have you been living here, Baala...?" She asked softly, her paws moving soundlessly as she slipped between the huge trees.
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Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 1:50 pm
"I haven't been living here, really," she told Kiuma in an almost conversational tone, slowly becoming more and more open to her. It may not have been exactly what Kiuma wanted, because it predicted attachment. These were the early signs, the trust, the want for conversation, and the overall compulsion to offer her aid to Kiuma. If any sort of bonding was exactly what Kiuma was not wishing for, it could already well be too late.
"I've just been wandering around in this area. It has a lot of the necessities that I need. There's shade, food, water... I'm almost unwilling to leave it. But I will in time, there's no point to dwell here if it is not my home." If Baala really wanted to, perhaps she could've made some space near here her home. It was not a decision she wanted to make, though. There was still a large world out there waiting to be explored, and an area where she could make her claim and find herself at or near the top of the hierarchy.
Baala continued to lead the way, ducking under low branches, maneuvering expertly between bushes and onto something that seemed like a path. Certainly many creatures had travelled on it, for it was well worn down and not much vegetation crawled over it. This path she followed, her steps light and careful, lest she step on any unfortunate creature and hurt herself in the process. Eventually the jungle's thick brush lessened, making way for a pool of cool water. "Here we are."
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 10:34 am
Kiuma shouldered aside the vegetation as she followed after Baala's slender form. She wasn't hunting, nor did she fear having the sound lead other hunters to her, so it hardly mattered if she was loud or quiet in her trek. Bright red eyes narrowed, struggling to pierce the gloom beneith the spreading branches.
"You should go to the Pridelands, if you don't intend to stay here..." She slid the comment out there, attempting subtlety. "There is all those things there, as well are many lions who would be happy to have a friend like yourself." The lioness struggled to hide the sneer that wanted to pull at her muzzle. Those of her homeland were almost sickening with how accepting of strangers they were. It was something she'd never understand, being one to keep to herself and the select few she trusted.
The scent of the water grew stronger and she lifted her head as they broke out of the vegetation to find the pool laid out before them. Kiuma glanced around once to check the area, then padded forward to crouch at the edge. Lapping the water to sooth her parched throat, she never once stopped thinking, turning over many ideas and thoughts inside her head.
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 8:14 pm
Baala had to smile, because though Kiuma was trying to be subtle, she was failing to be. Baala had no idea why Kiuma would want her to head in the direction of the Pridelands, but she figured she might as well check them out eventually. "Perhaps I will travel to them, if that's where my feet lead me. Though I'm not quite so sure if I'm the sort of friend who other lions are looking for." She was unsure, with all of her time spent alone, that she'd even be ready to meet more lions. Kiuma was enough for her to handle for now.
"Just point me into the direction of the Pridelands, and I will more then likely go there one day." She would not guarantee that she'd travel to those lands. It all depended upon whether her heart and feet wanted to go there. If she got distracted along the way, or found her own home, the Pridelands were a place she would never visit. But if her home resided there... She had to try, try and see for herself whether it could be home or not.
She came up beside Kiuma, lowering her head to take a long drink of water, feeling it roll down her throat and quench her thirst. It was not a big thirst because she had been here for a long time and could drink whenever she pleased. Baala had not yet been chased out of the lands, so she considered it safe enough to stay and drink.
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 11:14 am
Kiuma sighed in relief as she sat up, curling her tail around her paws as she lifted one to lick, using it to clean her face of the water. Red eyes slitted, she looked to the younger lioness and studied her closely. Her voice was casual when she spoke, and she kept up her grooming as though her words were unimportant to her.
"I'm heading that way now, actually... My sons are there, and I want to see them again. You could accompany me, Baala. You'd be safe, we could share in the hunt, and you wouldn't get lost. Its a pratical solution. Anything could come up if I let you alone to make your own way there." Dropping her paw, she turned to the other with a frank, direct gaze. "This is no place for lions... It grates on my nerves. Lions belong in wide open places with game that runs over the grass and the sun shining down. The pridelands are such a place, and I have a feeling you would like it a lot..."
Realizing that she'd been a little too intense in trying to convince Baala to go to the Pridelands, she pulled back and turned away again, picking up her other paw. She licked the pads and between to clean them and her claws from the dirt of travel, seemingly ignoring Baala as she waited for an answer.
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Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 2:49 pm
She tried to keep the surprise off her face, and even moreso she tried to hide away the hope. Oh, she so badly wanted to go with Kiuma, and not just for the perks of having a travel guide and someone to help her introduction into new lands move smoother. Baala wanted the companionship Kiuma was offering her. Any friendship was highly valued, mainly because in her life she had never had a permanent friend. It had been her mother only, for the most part. When her mother died, she had nothing, and now more then ever she wanted to start another bond with someone.
Her head bowed, yellow-tipped bangs falling forward into her eyes, making it seem as if she was hiding from Kiuma's intenseness. Secretly she enjoyed it, had hoped for just as much. This was what she wanted, for Kiuma to want her companionship just as much as she wanted her's. "I would like that. It is a practical solution, and the success rate of two lionesses is greater the one. It's the best decision we could make. So, yes, I would like to accompany you to the Pridelands. If my heart wants to stay, perhaps I will too."
Her gaze lifted, travelling idly around the forest that encircled them. No, this did not seem like a suitable habitat for a lion. But Muroki lived here, and he looked fine... Now, though, she had pinioned down what she did not like about this place. Baala had traveled through open lands most of her life. She was used to the plains, to having nothing to corner her and block her eye sight. The forest did just that. Baala was not used to it, and perhaps she never would be. "I think I would like the Pridelands more then this place. I need the open spaces."
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Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 6:22 pm
Kiuma smiled as she rose to her paws, her tail gently flicking. "Mmm... if you're ready, Baala, I'd like to start now and see how far we can get before dark." She slid her gaze to the younger lioness as she turned back the way they'd come. Now that she'd made the decision, she was itching to be on her way, wanting to see the green grasses of her home and the familiar faces of her sons.
"Oh, I know you'd like it. Its a beautiful place... wide open, full of food animals, water, grass and sunlight...." Her eyes were a little dreamy as she spoke. "Of course, that draws useless rabble to it, but its so bountiful that it can support them despite that." She rolled her shoulders in a shrug, her eyes flicking to the trees around them.
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Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 1:21 pm
She gazed down at the water, once again bowing her head to take a final drink. Somewhere in her heart she knew that this would be the last time she'd see this place. Perhaps one day she would come across it again, but never would she step inside this lush forest. She was done with it, her curiosity having been long satisfied. It was time to move on, and with a companion to lead the way it was easier to abandon this place. She had been holding on to it for too long. "I am ready. I'd rather be able to see the stars tonigt. The trees block my view."
She took the lead, opting to guide Kiuma out of the forest and to the dry plains. From there it would then be Kiuma's job to keep them on the right path. For a little bit she'd keep that added pressure off of Kiuma's shoulders. "Useless rabble?" Her head tilted to the side curiously, and she glanced back at Kiuma, patiently waiting for an answer to her question. "It does sound beautiful, and a place I would like. But we'll have to see."
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 10:04 am
Heavy shoulders rolled in a shrug as Kiuma followed Baala out of the forrest, her tail gently swaying at the easy pace.
"Yes, useless rabble. Rogues who flood in looking for a home in a pride. They come with little or no skills in hunting, or heavy with cubs, or crippled in some way, and since my sister is so weak-hearted, she takes them in. Then the pride has to provide food and shelter for them, while they do little more than laze around all day. Their cubs swarm the lands, always under foot..." She trailed off with an annoyed growl, her tail flicking faster in irritation. "It was something our parents started, Father never turned away anyone, and Kamilika has held to that foolish tradition. The Pridelanders would be quite a force if they weren't filled with such useless wastes of space." She huffed as she ended, blowing a little steam off with the tirade.
"You though... you won't be like them, I trust. I can see the potential in you, all you need is something to start on... you would make a good addition, I think." Kiuma tossed that out almost off-handedly, almost casual about it. But then, it would be Kiuma that brought the new member, she wouldn't just wander in and decide to stay. Kiuma knew she wasn't going to be a burden on the pride, therefore it was a good thing that she was going to at least visit, and hopefully stay if the red lioness had anything to say about it.
When the pair broke out of the trees, Kiuma sighed in relief, despite the sun beating down on her back unmercifully. Open space... it was a wonderful thing. Pausing for a moment, she took her barings then struck out boldly, pacing out to take the lead. Power rolled in her steps, contained and well guarded. Every motion became energy saving, designed to allow her to travel long distances with little effort. It was something she'd learned to do long ago, and now had become second nature to her. Baala would have to learn it quickly if she hoped to keep up for any length of time.
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 3:44 pm
"I believe I would agree with your view point. If I had run of a pride I would not accept every needy lion into it. A pride cannot function as one unit if members of it are weak. But, there are exceptions I would make, there will always be exceptions. A lone female with cubs is something I could not turn away. It would be too similar to my own life experience. And cubs... well, they can always be taught to be productive members. As long as it doesn't get out of control, I see no problem with it." Baala was now worried with what she would face when she reached the Pridelands. Now she knew she would be turned away... but did she want to become part of a pride that was based off of lions who were lazy and did not deserve the positions they had obtained? She was not sure that it would not irritate her every day of her life. How could Kiuma put up with it, Kiuma who had stronger feelings on this problem then her? "I do not know if the idea pleases me... that there are free-loaders. I would rather have them eradicated then share any position with them."
She turned her head so that her gaze could meet Kiuma's, and the question floated around in her mind, asking why Kiuma thought she would be a productive member of the pride. It was not because she wanted to hear words of praise, but because she sincerely did not know why Kiuma thought her better then the rest of the rogues that wandered into the Pridelands. In fact, she did not really understand why Kiuma wanted her to be a part of the pride. It was so very clear that she wanted Baala to stay with her, just as it was so very clear that Baala did not want to leave Kiuma's side. To her... it felt like she had found her place. Kiuma had offered a place to belong, and she already felt it tugging at her, begging her to stay. In the end, she did not know that even if she did not like the Pridelands she would leave them. If Kiuma wanted her there, she would stay, stay so she could have that feeling of home. "Thank you, I do not think I wouldn't try my best to be a productive member of the pride I chose to join. The harder I work... the more benefits I will recieve."
Baala let Kiuma take the lead, content to walk with her head in line with Kiuma's shoulders. These were her lands, in a sense, the lands of the rogues. She knew them in her heart, and would endure through them until they came to the Pridelands. The only thing that could doom her was that she was indeed weak. By now she had become used to the constant hunger gnawing in her stomach, so much that she did not really ever know when she was truly hungry. Her body, during her stay at the jungle, had become more healthy, but it would only last her so long before she would have to beat back fatigue and hunger to keep up with Kiuma. But, she would do it, determination and a fierce will were on her side.
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Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 10:06 am
Kiuma smiled slowly, the expression unpleasant, though it wasn't directed at Baala.
"Perhaps, but think... if that female is so weak she can't care for her cubs herself, why would you want her in the pride, so she can make more cubs that are equally as useless? And cubs are fine to a point... but when cubs outnumber adults as they did not so long ago, feeding everyone becomes a problem." Her shoulders rolled in a shrug as she walked, dismissing the arguement. It wasn't something they needed to argue on.
"I know you will do your best, and I will never feel ashamed that I'm the one to have brought you. You deserve it more than some, and you know how fortuneate you are. Now, come along and keep up. We have a long distance to travel. If we make good progress, we'll see about catching something to eat when the sun goes down."
Ah, yes... a new begining for both of them on the heels of tagedy. It remains to be seen if it will work out, or if it will end up like all the good things in Kiuma's life...
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 1:32 pm
(( -deems this finished, belatedly of course- 8D ))
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