[PRV] He of the Roaring Heart

[Meepfur]

((This RP can now be posted in by any pride members currently in the swamps (i.e. not on quests themselves XD).))

Asali'jua lay at the borders of the swamplands, having extracted herself from the duties of motherhood for the day. Today, for the first time in quite some time, she was more than mother to her cubs, more than love to her Consort; today, she had the duties of a Queen to fulfill. In the night she had dreamt of brown paws crossing the borders, sinking pleasantly in mud long unfelt between the pads of any of her first litter.

The dream had been clear - one of her children was soon to return. One with brown paws. That could mean Juu, or it could mean Nyoe. Her mother's heart beat fast, her stomach fluttered, but on the exterior her anticipation showed not at all. Outwardly, she was all calm, even when a silhouette appeared at last on the horizon.

The lioness simply stood and waited, muddied tail swaying behind her. In time, the figure became more than just a silhouette, and she saw at last which child had come home to her - it was Nyoe.

Before he could catch sight of her, however, she slipped back into the swamp, coursing through the familiar environ, straight to its heart.  

[Meepfur]

It was with steps simultaneously hesitant and confident that the lion who had at birth been named Nyoe returned home. It seemed like forever since he'd last heard the humid thrum of the swamp, felt the pulse of life all around him as it could be felt nowhere else. Here, it was all around you, surrounding you. Only the jungle could even begin to compare.

The grown lion released a long, sighing breath. Suddenly it felt as though he'd been holding it ever since the moment his beautiful mother had sent him away to find his name. As an overconfident, enthusiastic adolescent, he had never imagined just what the journey would entail, nor how long it would take. But now, at last, he was home, and he never wanted to leave again.

Time had not erased memory, however, and he recognized the lingering scent of his mother on the thick air. Lifting his maned head, he made his way towards the den of the Spirit-talkers.  

[Meepfur]

As she neared the heart of her home, Asali slowed her steps to emerge with dignity, slipping into the water and making her way across with sure, strong strokes. There was one small benefit that came with the pride current state - she didn't have anyone to gather up. She had left Jabali with the children, with instructions for them to stay on the island. She had, however, offered no explanation, simply given her Consort the order (for no matter how gently she asked, there were times when her requests truly were orders).

Pulling herself from the water, the pale lioness didn't even bother to shake the water from her fur; it was awfully warm today, anyway. Again, her heart quivered despite being so carefully fettered. Today she would welcome her son home, and welcome him home as an adult. Soon, very soon now, she would hear him speak his true name for the first time.  

[Meepfur]

One of Asali'jua's second litter had been peering out from the hollow of the giant old tree that was the pride's den. When her mother had left and her father had disallowed them all from going anywhere, Mluziluzi's curiosity had been piqued - she'd even tried to slip off once! She hadn't gotten past her father though, of course.

At her mother's return, the juvenile squealed and dashed out to bounce excitedly in front of the pale lioness, eyes alight. "Momma!" she cried, "Momma's back!"

"Hi Momma! What were you lyin' around for out on the borders all day, huh? Huh? Did you see anything cool?"  

[Meepfur]

The Queen laughed, her own bright eyes sparkling. Was there any creature in the world more wonderful than one's own child? Especially when that child was so like one's own self. Her words were proof enough of that. Without following, and with being told, Zi had known exactly where Asali was and what she was doing, if not why. She too was a seer, just like the older brother she had never met, Mng'aro.

When would her pale son return? For a moment her thoughts drifted to Mng'aro and the rest of her first litter, but she quickly shook off the reverie. She would leave it for another day.

Pulling her daughter close, Asali chuckled. "You'll see - but first, you have to be very quiet, okay? Something very important is about to happen, and you have to pay attention; you must watch, and not break silence. It is the way, and to disobey would make the vijini very angry."  

[Tahja Estes]

Chaka had pouted at first being told they had to stay behind when their mother went out, but quickly made the best of the situation by cuddling up with their father instead, and sneaking in some play time with her many brothers and sisters. Surprisingly none of them seemed the least bit tuckered out when Asali returned, and with a happy grin, followed her sister out of the den to skid to a stop by Asali, craving answers as well as a bit of their mother's affection, crowding in beside Mluziluzi and bursting forth with her own verbal greeting. Something was happening?? Ohh!!

"Something important?? What, mamma, what? Give us a hint, mamma, please?"  

[Lady_Ourania]

There had been no attempt made in Ige's mind to question her mother's sudden and insistent need to travel outside the comfort of their immediate home. She had listened only long enough to hear the orders that dictated she and her siblings keep their paws to the soil and stay with their father before losing interest and attending to other things in her overactive imagination - most notably to the fictional entities that were held therein. She had yet to reach a point where her curiosity and creative fabrications could get her into trouble, and her indulgence had only grown with time rather than decreasing.

It wasn't until Mluziluzi's cry alerted her that the young lioness pulled herself from provoking thoughts, rising from where she'd been lounging in the mud to see what was happening. Two of her sisters were already there and needling her mother for answers concerning her whereabouts, so she hung back to listen in on the ensuing discussion, golden eyes thoughtful. Was their mother's disappearance really that intriguing? Had she missed a major turning point while pondering the figments and fragments vying for attention in her head?  

[Meepfur]

((Just so this has a better chance of getting somewhere in a timely fashion, I'm hijacking it and assuming everyone else is around and watching things unfold.))

"Something you'll be doing one day," she explained gently, "So pay attention." With that she said no more, only herded her cubs into some semblance of order and shushing them once more for good measure. Looking to see that the rest of the pride was in attendance, as they all should be, she then moved to the western side of the island, where the tiny 'bridge' of land across lay.

There Asali'jua sat and waited, where twice now she had been on the other side, shepherding cubs across.  

[Meepfur]

It was otherworldly, the feeling of being home again after so long. Had it been so warm before, or was it the thick mane that lay across his shoulders that made it so now? It was not unpleasant, though, not to Narindima'moyo, once called Nyoe. Everything that was home was everything that was wonderful in the world.

Even after months away, he knew his way through the swamps, knew the way to the heart of the lands. The island den had been the destination of his very first journey, after all, when his mother had guided them so gently towards home. Had any of his siblings come home? Juu perhaps, or Mng'aro? Had his childhood friend, Kinamasi, gone away to find her name?

Such questions only deepened his anxious excitement as, at long last, he laid eyes upon his mother once more, and drew to a pause.  

[Meepfur]

Inwardly, the pale Queen beamed at the sight of her son, grown large and strong and handsome. Outwardly, however, she was expressionless as she rose, her gaze steady and appraising. There would be a time for laughter and embracing, but there were other even more important matters that came first.

When she spoke, it was with all her authority. "Who comes before this pride? Who lays foot on this sacred ground? Who were you? Who are you? Who will you be?"  

[Meepfur]

Though he had, quite reasonably so, expected questions, a ritual, his mother's inquiries still set his heart aflutter. Would his answers be what they needed to be? He knew what they would be, and that they were true - surely that would be enough? Yes, they had to be.

Willing the beat of his heart to steady, he drew himself up to his full height and stood proudly, speaking in as measured a way as he was able, "I do."

"I was Nyoe, but now I am Narindima'moyo." He had never had his mother's eloquence, and so his answers were short and utterly simple. "I don't know who I will be, but I've come home."

Please, please let that not be the wrong thing to say.  

[Meepfur]

Finally, Asali allowed herself a small smile. That was her son, honest to the end no matter what. She wasn't finished quite yet, though, and spoke again, "This is Narindima'moyo, son of the Jini-misemi - see him, bless him, and welcome him home!"

The Queen threw her head back and roared, two short bursts followed by one long to close the ritual.