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 Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:08 am
In the past few months she'd met more new faces than she'd cared to. One, in particular, still shone like a light in the dark, and was likely the reason for her mood being as foul as it was. That, and the fact that she still hadn't managed to get her family to move closer into the pride's lands. Or even go to meet them.
Thus, Kizuka entered the lands herself, boldly as a cat might dare. Rather than skirt and sneak about as she would have normally (and had a few times already), she seemingly appeared from thin air on the faint trail into the pride's main meadow and strolled right out into the midst of what would have, in long ago days, been a group of lionesses. Now, she wasn't sure how many she'd see, if any at all.
Of course, only ghostly visages haunted the meadow these days. And yet living flesh in a mist covered form sat, thinking on everything that'd been going on as the days toiled past. Longer and longer still she sat, doing nothing at all. It seemed as though everything she did was on autopilot. None of that was true however, she was thinking, most of the time. Thinking on how things would be different soon enough.
Thusly the noble lioness happened upon her, a regal queen despite the ragged wear her land bore. An ear flicked, bearing witness to the one who strode within her reverie, but that was the only visible acknowledgment she would give.
Kizuka didn't miss the sole lionesses resting there that day. Her nose told her no others were about--hunting for what little game remained, no doubt--and she turned her paws towards Masika without the slightest hesitation. The past weeks had put the barest of muscle back upon the lionesses form, thanks mostly to the prowress of her chosen mate. How odd a couple they made right now; a male that hunted for his family, and a female that protected them from scavengers and thieves. She didn't pause to reflect on this thoughts, however, and rather stopped before her Queen's place of perch.
Kizuka dipped her head briefly, slightly, before she too climbed upon the jetty to lay in the slight mist that still whetted the air. Taking a place beside Masika, she threw her bones down in a graceful heap, unconsciously mimicking a similar lioness that had once breathed this same air as she, and lifted a paw to clean.
"Things are silent. Few dare to wander within the borders these days. I welcome the silence, and yet I dread it." Turning her head, she dipped her head in return before staring off into space once more. Her pose, her demeanor, Queenship suited her, others had pointed out. The ghostly visages that wafted through the meadows and caves often whispered praise and approval, quietly mulling over how alike she was to Nyunya and Kunge. Or perhaps someone watched over her, silent from the shadows making such whispers. Quite possibly, it was her own mind thinking such things. Either way, it helped to settle her slight unease at the role.
"What say you of these things? Has all been well and quiet with you and yours?"
"Not entirely, I'm afraid," Kizuka replied presently. "We've an outsider in our midst, female, and pregnant." That was foremost, she thought, for it was something a Queen should know. Kizuka had felt guilt, and often, for not having given her the information sooner but there was much to do during her days to keep her family as well of as they were... at least, in relation to the situation around them. "She was wandering, half dead in the desert when we found her... nor did she realize her 'situation.'"
Normally Kizuka might have stopped there, and indeed it wasn't much in her nature to explain herself. Yet, something in her, perhaps related to that nearly fanatical loyalty that had kept this place as 'home' so many years, caused her to add, "I had not it in me to turn her away."
After a moment's consideration, she continued her 'report.' "There have been others I have seen and spoken with. Two lions, in particular, who claim to have been a part of the pride. One, I know; he was sent from these lands when I was a child. The other is an amnesiac with only the faintest familiarity of the land about him."
"A pregnant female you say.... And quite unaware of her condition? Innocence or ignorance, both must be bliss." She snorted softly before closing her eyes for a moment. Her silence loomed for longer, before she nodded. "If you couldn't turn her away, then we shall not either. Keep her laying low however. Better safe, than infinitely sorry, I'm afraid."
"And another has come home. Obviously full grown, if you saw him gone when you were but a youngster. What kind of shape is he in? Willing and able to help the pride out in our time of need, in order to reside here one more? I will not stand for, nor allow freeloaders, of course."
"As for the other, barely a memory? I take it you do not remember him." Masika paused, pondering for a moment. "Do you recognise him from the wall?" Indeed, she'd known that Kizuka had been within the cave and looked at the history captured there. It could be useful. "If not, I do not want anything to do with this one. Faking is possible, and I don't want to chance this... Nyekendu urging traitors to walk amongst us."
"My thoughts exactly, Masika." Kizuka nodded her agreement. "I didn't recognize him in scent, memory or paint at all, and while I saw evidence of a great fall, I didn't trust that he had taken it himself. Him, I warned back... but I cannot faithfully say that he's gone; there is much land within our borders, no matter how ragged."
Her gaze roamed towards the cave that held their sole means of records. As much as she wanted to ask about that strange, hide rankling lion she had met, Kizuka still wasn't certain she would like the answer. "The other is Makadara, and full grown as you guessed. He seems to be in good shape, though I can't guess at his ethics or even his continued loyalty. I believe he came more for hope of his mother than anything else. I warned him of the situation, but let him pass. He may yet show himself."
Kizuka's features turned dark when she came to their last subject and a worried noise itched at the back of her throat. "Momo, as she's known, is less innocent than one might think... unfortunatly. I would that ignorance was hers, but her growing belly dictates otherwise. She is the reason we have not come further in yet, for we weren't certain as to the others' reaction. To my knowledge, only yourself and one other is aware of our presence at all."
"If he is not gone, he shall be dealt with. I cannot risk the pride further with hapless strays. It's hard enough welcoming back the mists children when things are yet to better for us." She sighed softly, but nodded to this. "Better for it to be mist's children, than have trechery in our midst."
"Makadara.... the name I do not recall, but as I said, if you remember him, and he is aware of our situation, then he is fine as long as he knows he must contribute if he is to remain with us." Masika raised herself to a sitting position, jaws opening to allow a sharp toothed yawn past.
"Do not worry about the others. They should be aware of your presence, and if not I shall speak with them. Most know to ask questions first, rather than barge in and start a fight. To do so would be calling death upon us all. With her, however, safety lies in laying low." An ear twitched before a thought came to her. "I should meet with this lioness. So that even I may know of her, if I should stumble upon her during my walks."
Kizuka nodded. "That you should." It was more an agreement than any sort of coaching, for though Kizuka was the elder she knew no better than Masika the ways of running a pride. She thought, however, that would be best. "Ushaufu as well, if you've not yet met my mate. He can be trying, but he knows to do his part."
The last was an addendum she hoped would lessen the possible charge of her taking an outsider as a mate. True, she had spoken of his presence to Masika before, but she had not detailed their relationship to one another--true, too, was that the relationship had not been so easily defined before. Yet, one might consider her taking a lover in one not of their blood without consultation of her Queen as treason, depending on the ruling party. There were many who thought that outsiders brought danger--indeed, they often did and had in this pride's past. "She is often at the cave where we've been staying... indeed, she rarely leaves it. Whenever you have time to drop by, she should be there to speak with you...."
Moments ticked by and Kizuka flicked a fly away with her tail. "Masika..." She began slowly, 'feeling' about them for listening ears before she continued. "There is one in the pride, a male, that claims to be your brother..."
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Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 10:30 am
"I believe Ushaufu and I have met previously, if I recall correctly. By mere accident, even. I do believe he shall do his part to help though, so he's still welcome here. If the others are to take it hard, so be it, but they'll come, in time to see his usefulness once it becomes a bit more pridal knowledge."
Masika sighed at the further conversation, speaking of the male who claimed to be her brother. It was a trying subject for her still, one she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to breach at the moment. However, it was brought up and she needed to say something about it, at least.
"Indeed. I know of this one. I.... have no clue what to say or do about it however. He has been here longer, and I'm still only gaining the trust of those who've been here along with him, much longer than I have. We shall have to see how this pans out. Proof of the matter has not been provided, and yet, I believe I've seen him on the wall. Whether it was put there during the time when the pride no longer inhabited the area, or before, I do not know. We shall just have to make sure not to cause too many waves before we know what's truth and what's not."
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Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:35 pm
Her Queen's acceptance of Ushaufu was met with much relief. The brown lioness relaxed a good deal, keeping her silence as Masika made a decision about the other item that had been plaguing her Huntress's mind. Nodding quietly, Kizuka voiced her agreement, "Yes, Masika." There was no point in debating the issue for what Masika said made sense. It wasn't as if the male had caused any trouble... nor did it look like he would. THough some might say that it wasn't any of her buisiness, Kizuka considered it to be so; after all, this was where her loyalty lay.
The huntress lapsed into silence, grooming her paws as an air of content. It was nice to simply laze about in another female's company for once... not that Momo didn't count, she did, but Kizuka had alloted her more of a "child" place in that she needed a lot of care taking. Storm King, she was exhausted.
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