|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 8:43 am
So, when his daughter had lead him away one day, he had followed for he had to protect her and she seemed determined in her course. Misae had not--or would not, he considered--told him why she had chosen the course she had, but here they were on a cliff overlooking a shore line and the jungle that bordered it, with the ocean spread out before them. Nyota had never seen an Ocean before, though he had heard of one. Unlike the lakes he had seen, he knew this was different for the smell in the air and the pure, uncontained power that seemed to emanate from the bodies watery depths.
Nyota's tail thumped against the mossy rock he'd chosen as he waited for his daughter to catch up to him. She'd had a hard time climbing one area and rather than help her, he'd gone on ahead. It wasn't that he didn't care, it was that he did. If she took an unmerited time to cross it, he would go back and give her a paw, but right now she needed to try it on her own. Some might have seen his way of raising her as cold, but he knew that no matter how much he had come to care for her... he wouldn't be there forever.
The thought actually hadn't fully registered in his mind until just that moment, and he frowned. Here he was, worried about being tied somehow to Tsi, and he'd completely blinded himself to the fact that he was already tied to another. The male's frown grew deeper; did he really care or was it just a sudden rebellion now that the denial had been lifted from his eyes? He wasn't certain, and he resisted the urge to run from it. He had committed himself to taking care of Misae seasons ago, he could not turn from her now or all he had worked for would be for naught.
He ignored the part of himself that grew smug, mocking him with the fact that he was no longer planning on using the child in any fashion; he wouldn't taint her love for any sort of gain. Not now.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 9:00 am
Granted, she still had an undeniable childish streak to her, however, her blood red eyes would voice seriousness when the time came. She'd also, by now, noticed that she was perhaps... slightly different than the rest. On her travels with her 'father', they'd met up with quite the handful of lions, and Misae had yet to see even one, to be 'marked by the wind'. There were times she thought she was just crazy (and she was fine with that, really!) and there were times she thought this had nothing to do with being crazy; it was something else. Something she couldn't understand but merely accepted instead.
Not long ago, she'd been watching the Ela lands silently, when she'd felt the urge to move; it was a strange tug, and the wind had whispered directions to her. That morning, she had asked her father to come with her, and without a second's thought, both had moved on towards the Ocean. In fact, Misae didn't even know she was heading towards the big blue till they got there. It didn't matter though; her gift had told her to come, and that was that. She'd had a dream of this place, she realised, long ago, before they'd even reached the Ela lands, and as Misae clung to the rocks and climbed up, she was happy.
The climb was harsh, and at one point, she had stepped on a crab, whom had inevitably snapped it's claws over her paw for a few moments, however, after a while, she finally reached the top. Padding over to her father, she whimpered slightly, "It BIT me! The rock BIT me!" she sounded almost offended that the rock (rather, crab, but she didn't know that), had dared to bite her perfectly groomed paw. It was unharmed, but she lifted it to her eyes, glaring down at it, "I was just stepping on it... it then ran away; I'd never seen a rock with legs," in fact, she'd never seen the ocean either, and as she lifted her head, red hued eyes finally landed on the sparkling waters, "It's so pretty!" paw 'rock' forgotten, she sprung forward till she was at the edge of the rock, looking down, "It's just as pretty as the wind told me it'd be! It really is here!" she looked over at Nyota, smiling that same smile she'd offered him the first day they'd met.
It was a special smile she reserved just for him. She was sure he knew that too, "The wind told me to come here; I had to come," a pause followed as she felt her body itching to run down and explore, "I'm going to go down to explore; can I? Are you coming?" she wasn't entirely sure if her father wished to rest; normally, he was content with letting her take a glance around whilst he rested after a journey.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 9:10 am
"If this is where the wind has said we should be, then I think I'll stay here for now," Nyota replied in a bemused sort of tone. Perhaps it was a folly on his own part that he had never tried to break Misae of her belief in this 'wind' of hers. Others, surely, would and had tried to tell her that there was no such thing as a talking wind, or grew confused over the 'voice' that told his daughter to do things. Rather than aleviate her of such thoughts, or attempt to, Nyota had never told her otherwise about it. Indeed, he had encouraged it a little by simply believing it as truth. After all, this was the girl who had come to him after a monster had chased her in his direction--perhaps there was still something to what she said.
Unlike Misae, he had heard tales of seers before in his travels, and he thought that this might be what touched his daughter. Strange creatures, he'd been told, that heard the voices of the gods and saw glimpses of the future. Several times in her life the wind had guided her to good things, and never had it lead her astray... so thus, Nyota was content to relax upon the cliff's ledge they shared and allow her to do her own exploring.
Her 'moving rocks' did worry him a little, however, and his emerald eyes glanced side-long at the one on which he'd been sitting. it seemed content to simply be a rock, however, and so he let it be. "But do watch where you step, this time," there was a slight chuckle to his voice, "if the rocks are hostile we may be a little overwhelmed."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 9:34 am
"I will!" she chirped back at her father as she lowered her head and sniffed at the rock, looking down from her perch for the best way down, "It was a red rock, and had legs; I won't step on those again!" after all, she wasn't a creature destined to trip twice over the same rock. That was something reserved for humans; her father had told her about such creatures, and told her to stay away. Misae was determined to never trip twice over the same rock; her father had told her that this was a fate reserved only for humans and their peers.
Finally having decided on a route down from her perch, the white hued lioness climbed down with almost unnatural grace (after all, she wasn't feline for nothing). Her claws sunk down here and there as she descended till her feet found the warm sand below; her head raised to look up to her father only momentarily before she turned and ran off down the beach.
As she ran, Misae found she didn't have a destination in mind; in fact, her feet guided her as she ran through the sand, jumping and playing with the waves (Something she found fascinating, for she'd never seen water move like this; and it was all foamy! And it was salty! And it smelled funny!). After a while of playing, she paused her running and looked back over her shoulder; she could still catch the scent of her father, far away, however, she could no longer see him. This didn't bother her, for Nyota had always pushed her to do her own exploring without having to cling to him for guidance, so thus, tired of the waves and wanting to dry up, she moved away from the ocean.
The sand clung to her feet, and she tilted her head as she raised her paw, sniffing at the salty fragrance that drifted from her before looking to her right; trees lingered there, palm trees and bushes. Instantly curious, she moved towards them, her nose held high as she sniffed the air; she was innocent, but not stupid, by any means. It wasn't till the sweet scent of fresh water reached her, that she realised just how thirsty she was. Moving swiftly through the foliage, she found a pool of fresh, running water; a small creek fed it, and without a second's thought, the lioness slipped into the water, fully engulfed by it, she got rid of the sand that had been clinging to her otherwise pristine coat. Once satisfied with her small swim, she climbed up on the shore, her head, soaked, dripping droplets onto the pool, lowering as she drank the water in order to rid her thirst.
It was probably her enthusiasm that had made her forget one of her father's early lessons; never let your guard down.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 11:50 am
Nyota watched as Misae inspected the ground before her. The red ones? He made an note of that, even as he settled onto his side for a good sun bath. There was one wonderful thing about the beach--the breeze. Combined with the heat of the sun and the plethora of places to stretch out for a good nap this made it a perfect situation for resting.
The lion gave a great yawn, flashing his bright teeth to the midday sun and blinked his eyes wearily. After a long walk it would be good to get some rest. Exploring and playing in the waves was for the young, he thought, emerald eyes staying trained on the white foam of his daughter as she danced down the shore. Slowly his eyes closed, the last sound to come to his ears the merry laughter of Misae's first dance in the ocean.
~~
Hadithi woke uncertain about what had called him. The cave his family had been sharing for most of his life was empty--Kamaria was known to go off on her own whenever the stars called her and thus her absence was not a strange one. Rather, something else had called for him but the male was unsure what. The cave said that it had not done it, and the plants at the edge were silent, save for one flower.
Hadithi rose to his feet, stretching, then went to that flower. Tipping his head down he nosed it, caressing the soft, highlighter bright petals with his breath. Something waits for you, the flower told him, go the Sea. It will tell you more. Hadithi nodded. "Thank you," He breathed, then headed past, careful not to step upon the helpful creature.
Now that it had been pointed out the answer seemed obvious. Though the Ocean did not call as urgently as it may have in a crisis, he did feel the tug of the tide upon his wave-marked paws. Something was different about today. Yet, as he passed by, he found himself pulled more towards a body of fresh water the pride used for drink. Perhaps it was nothing more than the dryness of his mouth.
Turning from his course, Hadithi made the short detour to the stream bed. Slipping through a pair of darkly leaved, flower ridden shrubs, the male lowered his head to take a sip from the water's edge. He stopped, then, an inch from the surface as he saw the strange ripples already running through it. His eyes rose though the rest of him did not move to see.... her.
"A pelt as white as fallen snow," He said, loud enough for any to hear. The Mother had proved right again, though it had been many days since she had come to him. His heart sang and, water forgotten, he grinned, "The Ocean said you were coming."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 12:53 pm
And guard she had let down indeed; so much so, that she was entirely unaware of the male that watched her till he spoke. His words forced her head up, her large red eyes widening in fear at first; surprise was not something felines bore well, and for a long moment, Misae's frame was still, her muscles rippling as her eyes darted to her left. It was obvious she was frightened and was pondering an escape route, however, his words seemed to register then, after such a long, awkward pause.
"The Ocean said you were coming."
Claws retreated back out of sight, muscles relaxing as she lioness turned to face Hadithi; it was a very long moment, but it was a crucial point. She didn't run from him, like she'd run from that monster so long ago. His voice hadn't been harsh, and his body language did not betray ill intentions; slowly, Misae relaxed herself down fully, her body sitting on the rock as she regarded the other, her head tilting in silent question, "The wind told me to come..." she breathed the words at him, almost whispered them, however, by now, not due to fear, but due to the fact she seemed unwilling to break the silence that held the moment together.
Offering him a tentative smile, she shook her pelt dry of excess water; she'd decided after registering his words, that someone that talked to the ocean, just like she talked to the wind, would not harm her, and thus... she decided to near him. Tearing her red gaze from him, the lioness seeked the best way across the pool, taking the few rocks that lined the sides as the best path; gracefully, she leaped from rock to rock till she reached Hadithi's side, a few meters away, her head tilting up to regard him. His form was doubtlessly larger than hers, however, fallen snow was a good description for her pelt indeed, "My father says I'm like a rose amongst fallen snow," fear overcome, she seem vividly curious, form rearing up into a sitting position as she placed her paws over her eyes, concealing them from him.
"See?" she uncovered her eyes, the markings staring at him, like leaves peeking out of the snow, and she smiled, "You talk to the ocean?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 1:37 pm
He hadn't meant to scare her, and when he realized that he had a contrite look washed across his face. She seemed fine now, though, and watched him as he watched her. Then he heard it, that whisper that caused his heart to flutter with hope. The wind? She spoke to the wind... Had he died in that moment he could have wished for no happier a death. His grandfather had given him many serious words over how there were few others in this world that saw life as they did; many even who saw the art but did not hear the songs or witness the dances. So many out there who didn't listen to the muses... but here she was. An outsider that spoke to the wind, someone who might understand... This was why the wind had sent her here, and why the Ocean had told him to wait. This was their sign that they would remain to see others on their way back to the purity.
Hadithi watched as she made her way towards him, moving over to allow her space between the water and the foliage. He didn't sit, he was too excited to sit, and his tail lashed from side to side with that joy. It radiated off of his face, as open as a child might have been, and totally at ease with displaying any and all emotion truthfully to the world. "I do, we all do, but I belong to it specifically. It... teaches me and guides me," He explained, attempting to speak slowly though his energy longed for something more expressive. Once more he thanked his grandfather's warnings... but Mother had also told him to sing to her. Unable to help it, his tone took on a sing-song quality as he continued on, "It is my Muse. ... I have never seen a rose growing in the cold, but were I to find one, i don't think it could compare. No, it wouldn't hold a flame to the beauty i see here."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 2:29 pm
He was odd.
That was her first thought as she watched him; he looked much like a child that had just been promised first servings off a meal in a large pride. It was visible in the way he couldn't seem to even sit still; his tail lashed from side to side. Misae thought it was strangely adorable. It was almost as if he weren't an adult, and yet she could tell from his scent and his size he had long since reached maturity; there was no way he could compare this male with her father.
The thought made her giggle instantly, and tension broken, she walked up to him. There was by now; he would not attack her, thus she circled him, sniffing his pelt, "You smell like the ocean," she smiled up at him, red eyes big, watching him. His sing song voice and compliments amused her, for no one had ever talked to her with such a tone; was he trying to sing her a lullaby? "The wind sings to me at night... but it's never as cheerful as you," she could still remember those long nights back at the oasis, where the wind alone would lull her to sleep, it's soft voice ringing in her ears.
It'd always told her of far away places, and of far away people; she was glad she'd always listened to it. Listening was something she'd always been good at that, and amusingly enough, as time went by, the white pelted lioness could think of him no more of an adult, but rather, as an overgrown cub. It made feelings surface up and bubble within her; feelings she usually kept at bay; true, her father was kind, and he did play with her, but it was hardly possible to treat him as a playmate. Suddenly, she felt that she could play with this male, and that he'd appreciate it, "The wind's my muse then," she did not understand what he was talking about, but as she circled him, she came to a decision; stepping forward, she pressed her head to his mane, her maw opening to grasp a bit of pelt, tugging gently. Without releasing him, she looked up at him, her brows shooting up to hide beneath her long bangs in silent question.
When she released him, she sprung away a pace or two, "Come!" pressing the upper part of her body to the floor, she invited him to chase her, then turned to speed through the foliage, "Come!" she called him, almost mirroring the way Muhali had incited him to play. Misae's voice and attitude was not like that of the goddess however; there was nothing ethereal about her, and her giggling voice rang back at the male, "Can't catch me!"
She was allowed to have fun and play, after all. This was the first time she'd met someone that truthfully believed her words, and even though she was running, she was doing so slow enough to be caught; she was expecting him to catch her, for that was the way the game went.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 2:50 pm
There was no reason in his mind to behave as anything less than what he felt, and thus he missed that her amusement was directed at him rather than with him. He grinned in response, chuckling along to her giggles, and took his turn sniffing her as he did her. She smelled of the wind and forests, of a cool breeze thus untainted by the salt that lingered in the air near the shore. It was refreshing and strange at the same time, but he felt it suited her.
"I have waited a long time for a reason to be so cheerful," He answered honestly, "and it has finally come. My heart could fly with the wind and birds it is so light!" Never once did it occur to him that he was acting oddly, and the female didn't seem to truly mind it. Indeed, she challenged him to a game, much as had Mother only moons before. The similarities only served to further solidify Hadithi's giddiness and he took up the chase, even as Muhali's voice seemed to ring in his ears. "Come! Come!"
"Can!" He called back, leaping to his feet to chase after her. He let her win for awhile, following her through the forest he knew so well, disrupting bird and flower and bug until he sped his paws and tackled her down a short hill into a meadow. "Can," He repeated, laughing and tagged her ear as he got up to dance away, resting on his forepaws as he looked at her, whole body practically dancing its excitement of having someone to PLAY with. Adults were not supposed to act like this.
"The Wind is your muse, if it teaches you," he explained, waiting for her to get up again, "It.... heh." Here he paused, coming down off of cloud Nine for the moment, "Well... there are not many who believe as our family does. When you said you spoke to the wind... I assumed a little much... but at least you speak to it and listen." His grin returned, fueled by the positive rather than pausing on the negative. "It is wonderful to meet another like us."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 3:37 pm
Amused giggles melted into true cheerfulness as she ran, and then, she felt his weight upon her, making her gasp as he tackled her down to the ground. Down they rolled till they came to a spot at the base of a small hill; she'd not had this much fun in such a long time that she felt like she'd grow wings any moment there. Her ear twitched back and forth as he tugged it, and slowly she pulled herself to her feet, sitting down elegantly (for after all, she'd been brought up to never forget that she was of feline nature), "So you can."
The smile upon her maw faltered suddenly, melting into confusion as he seemed to pause mid sentence and reconsider; his own grin had faltered then. Something had flashed through his eyes at that moment, and Misae found herself thinking that there was no doubt; a smile suited him best, truthfully. In fact, she thought this was such an important thing to mention, that she stood up from where she'd sat down previously, and strolled over to him, her maw set into a grim line of determination.
It was almost as if she'd dismissed his words for a moment; once she reached him, she sat up on her back haunches and elevated herself up as far as she'd reach. Of course, this wasn't enough; her body was smaller than his, so this, still with a serious expression, she lifted a paw and motioned him forward. It wasn't till he'd leaned in forth slightly, that she arched herself up even further and hooked her fingers to the sides of his maw, pulling it back into a smile.
Her own smile spread upon her maw, the seriousness having melted away as she closed her eyes for a moment, "There! That's much better! A smile really does suit you best!" she let go of his maw and lowered herself down slightly; her position seemed to mirror that of a dog that was begging for food for a moment before she sat a bit more formally on the floor, her head turning to look away from him, "I don't know what you mean when you say 'Muse', but that's okay," she turned to face him again and motioned as the wind circled them for a moment, blowing her bangs out of her eyes, "The wind talks to me, it's told me stories and songs since I was a child, and I was alone. It was my only friend - it's guided me throughout time and space; it told me to come here, and I found you," there was a small pause but she smiled suddenly, "I don't understand why, but it's okay too."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 3:53 pm
Hadithi blinked as she settled in front of him, eyebrows raising slowly as she pulled his maw into a smile. He laughed around her paws, grinning on his own accord at both her actions and statements. There was little that could put a frown on his face that day, not even the thought that his pride was all but gone couldn't shake his cheer. This was a good thing, whatever it was. "Well.. that is what a Muse does," He said with a shrug, "It teaches you songs and dances and stories; it keeps you company when you think you're alone. It helps us understand that we are never alone because everything speaks if you only listen to it."
He grinned at her, shaking his head, "But you are a guest and guests are not to be preached to. The Wind lead you here for a reason and it will reveal itself in due time. You may stay with us as you wait and take of our meals and songs and home as you like, so long as there is no harm to your plans."
He paused, thinking that the last may have been insulting. Finding her eyes for the briefest second thought polite, he smiled, "Not that I think this rose will p***k, even if she has the thorns to do so."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 6:46 pm
Pleased she had caused him to grin and chuckle again, she lowered herself back to the ground, "Then it is indeed my muse," she nodded, and her movements left no doubt that she was perfectly sure he was right, "Us?" her smiled had settled into a pleasant, polite line as she glanced up at him, "Are there more like you?" there was a hint in her voice that indicated she was both curious and... perhaps secretly pleased with the idea.
Her head turned away from him then however, a pause in her movements before she looked back up, "I came here with my father; is it okay if he joins us too? He probably needs the rest after the journey," somehow, the idea of watching Nyota sing and dance proved to be hilarious inside the lioness' mind, but she'd been brought up well, and whatever her thoughts were, were never voiced to the larger male. She took a moment to regard him then; he truly was larger than her... he practically towered over her, but then again, so did her father. The effect was not the same however; she was more aware of it with this male.
It hit her then, that she did not know his name, "How should I call you? My name is Misae'dhulu; you can call me Misae though," she paused as he invited her to stay, and chuckled at the later warning, her eyes becoming hooded for a moment, softer, "Not unless provoked... a rose would never pricked unless she were to be grabbed by force. Roses do not attack," she felt the words described her well; truthfully, she wasn't defenseless, however, she'd not felt the need to display such a side of her character since cub hood, long long ago... in that horrible oasis, "My father is wise."
No explanation was given about him; she loved him. Dearly, but he was not like her. The rose analogy did not serve him, and truthfully, Misae would not have it any other way. If there was a lion alive she'd have given her life to protect, it was her father, without a doubt, in all their differences... the pale lioness felt she was where she was, and whom she was, thanks to Nyota, "Come; I'll show you him," she found his eyes then but soon enough smiled, her eyes closing in the swift process as she dipped her head forward and once more grabbed a lock of his mane in her maw, tugging softly.
This time however, she did not run, but rather, walked slowly towards the rock where she'd left Nyota, turning to glance at the other male after a few paces, waiting for him, "I like you; I had never met another, touched by the wind," the words were breathed with emotion; there was relief, and happiness seeping through them, and for some odd reason, she felt like crying. She indulged on the feeling, and stray tear rolled down her cheek, which she brushed away with a paw; she'd thought she'd die, in time, without ever finding someone touched by the wind. After all, the wind was a fickle element...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 10:32 am
"There are.." Hadithi paused in his repsonse as he walked with ehr towards her 'father'. So she HAD brought others with her... this was good. Better than good, really. And, as he had thought, the memory of his family was no longer a bitter one. "There were others, many others, long ago... Sometimes I forget that 'we' are only two now, my sister and I. We hope to find more family, though; that more like us will come to this place and find it is their home."
He smiled at her, and while he hoped that she might do this, he made no overtures of expecting it. After all, the Ocean had only said she would come, not that she would stay--that would be her choice to make. "The Ocean called me Hadithi, and thus I am," He chuckled, "And the Stars named my sister Kamaria, though she is not about at the moment. I believe the Stars called her on a sojourn, but she will be back one of these days." He had total confidence that his sister would return, no matter how long she stayed gone.
As they moved through the journal, he held a few branches of flowers back for her to pass by then, occasionally nuzzling one or sniffing another. He didn't reply to any of their inquiries, not yet, but he would explain her presence to them later. "Everyone who does not mean harm has always been welcome here. It is the way of the Kizingo'zaa, and will always be our way... even if we pass to the next life with no lineage left behind. Mother will find herself new--"
Hadithi paused, realizing in his excitement not only was he babbling about things she wouldn't know, but that he was more talking to himself. He laughed lightly at himself and gave her an apologetic grin, "I'm sorry, Misae, I get carried away sometimes..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 11:20 am
She chuckled as he stopped talking and looked almost sheepish; it was charming, in a way, she had to admit. She wouldn't have been able to pin point what exactly about him was charming, but there it was; there was no way for her to deny it, "It's okay," as they walked and she lowered her head to pass through some bushes and flowers, she smiled at him, "I like to hear you talk," she left it at that, because honestly, she wasn't all too sure just why she enjoyed listening to him talking.
Something in the back of her mind told her that maybe it was that all what he said made some strange sort of sense, deep down in her subconscious. Another part of her told her it was the timbre of his voice, while another part of her told her it was simply that she'd never lingered around other lions too long. In fact, the one she knew best was her father. They never stayed too long, nor did she ever stroll away too far from him; for some odd reason, her father's presence had always kept other males at a distance. Needless to say she'd never been courted. No one had ever tried to woo her, and thus despite her age, Misae was... more than somewhat innocent.
"It's this way," she lifted a paw, pointing at a large rock up ahead before springing forward. She stopped, however, as she reached the rock and looked seriously over her shoulder at Hadithi, "Do be careful though; when last time I climbed up these rocks, a rock bit me! It was red, and had legs. Stay away from those!" never did it occur to her that this lion lived here, and thus needn't be told such things. Her mind was too preoccupied in keeping him safe from harm; after all, he was a new friend.
Or so she'd decided on her own anyhow.
Climbing up skillfully (or rather, more skillfully than earlier), Misae reached the top and slipped to where Nyota lay down, her maw coming down to nibble on his ear softly, her tongue licking at his cheek, "I found something interesting..." she whispered in his ear, nuzzling him before she looked over her shoulder at the other male, "Rather, someone interesting; he says we're welcome to stay in their lands," a pause followed, "He kinda reminds me of Tsisi, he talks a lot about the ocean, kinda like she talks about the spirits, lookit."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 11:37 am
Hadithi offered her another of his sweet smiles when she'd 'forgiven' his loose tongue. His eyes rose away from her when she pointed out the rock. Grinning, he nodded, "That's a good spot for sunning." His words were cut off by her warning about the 'rocks.' For a moment he blinked, completely surprised that someone wouldn't know what a crab was. Then, he remembered that he too had discovered them before when they first came to this shore. He and his siblings had spent many long, lazy days chasing the creatures and playing games with them amongst the rocks. So long as you didn't anger them they were a pretty friendly sort of Muse. Indeed, one of his sisters had been claimed by them.
"Crabs," Hadithi informed her as they climbed up the rocks--he with much more skill than she, for the time he'd spent here--and paused to make sure she was okay, "They call themselves crabs. They're creatures that live both in the ocean and hear on the shore, inside their hard red shells... of course, not all of them are red. Some of them are as white as the sands, so you have to be careful of stepping on them. They're not so bad, though... perhaps play a game with us later."
The suggestion was made with a playful grin and he landed on the flat top of the cliff with a fluid sort of bounce to his motions. He hadn't missed the brown and green lion laying there in the sun, nor the way Nyota had turned to eye them both--especially Hadithi.
Nyota ran a swift tongue along Misae's cheek as she took her place beside him and listened when she whispered her findings to him as if Hadithi weren't standing there, grinning like a fool. "I see that," Nyota nodded to her, then chuckled at her comparison. "The Ocean is it?" He didn't expect an answer to that and so shook his head before turning his sight back to the male.
His daughter had gone off by herself and come back with a grown man who... well no, probably not a grown male. While it seemed Hadithi had reached his physical maturity, there was a way in which the energy wriggled through his body and the light of his smile that spoke more of childhood than adulthood or even adolescence. Nyota tried not to make a hasty decision, but his heart was with Misae and thus his suspicions regarding any male near her.
"We're welcome to stay here, are we? What are these lands we have come to then, stranger? I'm afraid I have never been out this direction before."
"Kizingo'zaa is what we call it, and ourselves, Sir." Hadithi answered respectfully. He grinned, "We are not much now, but we wane and wax like the tide or the moon; and we welcome travellers such as yourselves to our home. Greetings, and Merry Met, I hope."
"Merry met indeed," Nyota said softly, pondering the wording that Hadithi had used. There seemed to be a precision to the choice, no matter how childish this male looked on the exterior. Nyota was torn between being impressed and being on guard. Whereas with Tsi he had taken this as a good thing... another male was a potential hazard, at least now that he had the female at his side who had come of age in many minds.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
