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 Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 6:12 pm
"Are we a Pride now?" Izulu asked one day, randomly, as they were headed across a Savannah. The mountains in the distance were a lot closer now--she used to not believe that they existed, but there they were in front of her! How odd. Their haze almost made her think that maybe they really didn't exist but it was somehow a trap of the Ivy King. Oh well, at least she was going where she was needed... and she had people that would actually talk to her along the way! That was something new indeed! Though Enok, at least, seemed annoyed by her sometimes and Oth was a strange bundle of nerves lately, she was enjoying herself immensely. Indeed, she bounded along around them on that non-stop amount of energy she always seemed to have, regardless of the afternoon heat or time between meals.
The thought actually wasn't as random as her companions might have thought it would be. Completely disregarding that she thought herself to be a lioness, the thought had occurred to her a few days ago that, as a male lion, Enok should have a pride of his own. He was a strapping young chap and a good provider, she could see that from the hunts she'd been on with him. Once more she wondered why on earth he hadn't kept at least one of those cubs he'd left behind. Males, Izulu shook her head.
Trotting through the chin-high grass she could just see Enok's head over it. He was taller than she was, by far, but he was always a good deal away and thus hard to see. He would be able to hear her, though--thus the benefit of good hearing most animals seemed to share. "Cuz if we're a pride, we're a really small pride."
There wasn't anything wrong with small, she thought. It was nice an intimate this way--but it wouldn't survive very long. Another thing her companions might not have thought would be true about her was that Izulu did, on rare occasion, think things through. It was a warped train of thought, always, but it was thorough. This train had been into deep space, out the a**-end of a black hole, through the ninth dimension of hell and back before it'd come to a conclusion inside her glittery, distraction-filled brain pan, but it had come home. And both males were liable to regret that.
"Prides shouldn't be small, you know. I think one of you should impregnate me."
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Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:39 am
Pride, huh.
Well, if they were a pride, the male thought, they were the strangest pride he'd ever seen in his life. Tell truth; he'd never really BEEN in a pride before. Even before his mother's death, it'd just been Oth, his mother and himself; barely a pride either, alas... he allowed himself to entertain the idea in his mind as they padded towards the still distant mountains, "No kidding," he offered the female, smirking slightly over his shoulder as she came to the conclusion they were a very small pride indeed. He was about to voice that in his mind, two 'lions' and one hyena were barely qualified to make a pride when Izulu dropped the bomb.
Almost literally.
The effects were devastating as it was.
Blinking, the large lion stopped in his tracks in order to face the hyenas, his nose wrinkling, ".... the ********?" he murmured in confusion as he tilted his head, "I'm not even going to get into how many laws of nature THAT breaks, but is that even POSIBLE, Oth?" a pause as no response came from his 'brother', and still blinking, Enok peered behind Izulu to find Othieno sprawled on the floor, "Dude, Oth?"The hyena in question had been minding his own business during the trip, his eyes trailing towards the female that walked ahead of him only once; when she mentioned them being a pride. He'd smirked then, watching and sniggering at the idea. Allowing his eyes to trail away, he'd continued to pad forward, his maw sucking on the marrow from a random bone he'd kept from their last meal; he so enjoyed bones...
And then, he'd heard her again.
"Prides shouldn't be small, you know. I think one of you should impregnate me."
And he'd tripped. Over his own paws, his eyes widening briefly as he tumbled to the floor in a grey mess of paws and bone. Said bone decided to slip further into his mouth upon the fall, almost choking him, causing him to spit it out as his paws snapped to cover his mouth, "Oh my GOD," he growled, "I'm think I'm bleeding!" his eyes turned to gaze at Enok, the usually pale pink orbs having turned a dark stormy color, almost red, darkened with emotion."Yeah," the lion's voice dripped with innuendo, "No wonder you're bleeding..." turning to Izulu, Enok tilted his head, lowering it, "And where'd they teach you about THAT, 'Zulu? Aren't you.... a little young?"
"Beg to differ..." came the whispered grump, "My nose says otherwise..."
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Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:56 am
She was too young? That was news to her. She'd seen so many lions have children when they were younger than she was now, and no one had seemed to question it. They stepped over the barest threshold of adult and were popping out litters... she'd always assumed it was for the numbers of the pride. Oh, she wasn't quite so insane as to not know HOW they got pregnant, but she didn't seem to quite grasp the reasoning behind it. But Oth had hurt himself!
That took a bit of priority, as she'd come to feel sorry for the poor fellow. Bouncing back to his side she nuzzled under his chin, guiding up back up to his feet and pressed her side against his. "Othy!! You shouldn't suck on bones while you're walking, you know!" Izulu nodded her head and chuckled, "Not that i blame you."
She sounded rational for once, which wasn't entirely unusual either. She had "lucid" moments at random--just as random as when she spouted off strange, deranged comments. "They are good... and no, i'm not too young." Frowning, Izulu tilted her head, "I've seen many lionesses younger than me have cubs. What's the difference? And how is that breaking a law of nature? .... Well, i suppose if it were Oth it would be. Lions shouldn't breed with anything other than Lions... but I've been wondering about that."
At this Izulu frowned, brow furrowing in concentration. "Are you sure Oth is a Hyena? He acts like a lion. and he smells like one too, sorta.. sorta like my own smell," Of course it was strange to smell herself. She'd never really tried before, up until a few days ago. Most animals who tracked by scent learned at an early age to block out their own scent so they could concentrate on everything else about them, but when one concentrated she found she could do it. "I think Oth is just a really strange looking Lion, so it wouldn't be too much a violation of natural law."
"You really shouldn't have left her behind, Enok. That's just mean." Izu shook her head again, tone almost that of a loving, yet nagging mother.
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Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 9:50 am
"Aaaahh..." Enok seemed to hesitate, almost as if wishing to say something, yet torn over the consequences it'd have, and thus, he sat down momentarily, silent, watching Izulu help Othieno up, "Yeah, well, I was referring to... mentally young..." he whispered the last two words over his shoulder, as if someone were there sitting beside him. A pause followed as the male wrinkled his nose, "Do you even know what it means to get impregnated? Do you know how to become pregnant? ... Where er... cubs come fro-"
He stopped his questions when Othieno pulled himself up on all four and glared at him, "Never mind!" he chirped, lifting a front paw as if to ward off both hyenas, chuckling lightly before addressing the other male, "Well someone's gotta tell her 'bout that you know..." his other paw rose up in defense to join the previous one as Othieno's dark glare intensified; it didn't help that his pale eyes had darkened so much. Enok was sure that had it been nighttime, they'd be flashing, "Fine, fine... it was only an idea; but think about it, Oth. Imagine she randomly says that to a rogue. You know full well a rogue won't think twice on such a delicious offer.... and even if females of er... the 'special lion' category ARE dominant, she's got as much of a dominant nature as you have a submissive one," a pause as he lowered his paws down again, "Which is to say, none."
Having managed to push himself up, The male hyena retreated ever so slightly away from Izulu, a small trail of blood trickling down his chin, dripping on the floor, from the inside of his mouth, "I'm fine, I'm fine..." he rushed to growl softly, taking a second step away from the purple female, "I'm fine..." brushing his paw over his muzzle, he only succeeded in smearing the blood, rather than whipping it away, his eyes trailing over to his two companions, a brow arching lightly.
It was then that Enok had the most lucid idea of his whole life, no doubt, "Ah well, I think it's time!" he said suddenly, almost as if he tired, "She's too smart for us, Oth, I think we better tell her the truth..." the male hyena however was only able to offer his friend a confused glance, still dripping blood on the floor. Taking no note of this, the lion turned upon Izulu, his gaze solemn, "You see, Hyena is JUST another way of saying 'special lion'. So when I said that Oz's a hyena, I really only meant 'special lion'," he nodded his head, "He's a very special, rare breed of lion. And 'lo and behold..." he leaned in to sniff the girl's face profoundly, watching as Oth straightened up and bristled unconsciously, "I think you're just his same breed! No wonder others are so oblivious as to your being a lioness, 'zulu... you're a RARE, very special, very.... awesome breed," he nodded again, sitting himself down, wrinkling his nose, "Oth, you're bleeding on the floor."
Blinking, Othieno looked down, his tongue sticking out just barely, "Yeah well..." he grumped, his ears flopping back against his head; the movement had no conviction though, soothed, for some odd reason, by Enok's previous words, "The erm... lioness wanted to leave," he voiced as solemnly as he could, "She... er... her pride was elitist, and they wouldn't have allowed Enok in anyhow; it was an impossible love. They parted ways. Cubs are always better off with their mother," he offered them a slight smile, but it lots the spark before it reached his eyes. He felt restless and twitchy and he had NO idea how much longer he was going to last around Izulu before he had to smash his head against a rock.
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Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 10:02 am
Izulu's ears perked with happy. No, not happiness--HAPPY. in its most pure, unadulterated form. Enok had just proved to her exactly what she'd always known all along. Not that she'd ever needed proof, of course. "I know!" She barked, wagging her tail, at both questions rather than just the one. "Oth and I are totally lions.. and yes, i do know where babies come from." Izulu chuckled, then stated it in her usual, direct sort of manner. Of course, she was missing a few little details--like relationships and love--but she new the earthly basics.
That stated, there was a slight pause. "Oth, you've got red on you."
She blinked at him, then leaned across to lick the blood off his maw. It didn't seem to occur to her that he was pulling away from her or had any reaction other than friendliness to her person. These were her males, as far as she was considered, and they'd be hard pressed to be rid of her.
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:45 am
Enok's first thought was something along the lines of 'What the BLOOD hell' as the female went into a semi-detailed description of just where babies came from. His second thought was 'Well I'll be damned...', his eyes rolling for effect as he sat back over his haunches, watching them with an arched brow, "You don't say..." there was sarcasm dripping from the statement, however, it was clear to him that Izulu'd never notice. No harm, no foul, right?
Too bad Othieno DID notice however, and he had half a mind to call his friend on it when Izulu decided she had obviously NOT tortured him enough today. There was no other explanation for her behavoir. No one could know where babies came from AND act like she did.
.... right?
Sad to note that the hyena wasn't all that sure, tell truth, "I'm okay! I'm okay!!" the words were almost paniced as he leaned away from her, almost comicaly, his expression becoming a clear grimace as he scootes away, inch by inch till.... he fell over backwards.
Enok roared with laughter, his eyes dancing with unhidden mirth as Oth forced the-glare-of-doom on him, "M'sorry mate, but it's so bloody amusing to watch; just TELL the girl and end your torment!" he chuckled, lifting a large, lazy paw to pass his tongue over, "Or I'll tell her; there's only so much you can take before you break down, pal, and I can tell the limit's approaching fast."
The look of utter horror the hyena gave Enok sent the lion back into new peals of laughter, "Don't you DARE!" he'd meant it as a threat, but it came out as a squeak, "Don't you DARE tell her I'm attracted to her-" a pause, his paws coming rapidly to place themselves over his maw.
Woops...
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 9:31 am
Izulu blinked at Oth as he fell over and began to giggle. "Silly oth," She cooed in a strange way, ears flopping back and a smile appearing on her maw. For once, she seemed like any other flirting female. Of course, this was Izulu, and nothing could be taken for granted. A second later that pretense had melted away. Looking back and forth between them during the exchange, she was obviously confused for several minutes until Oth blurted out his "secret."
Izulu barked with laughter, one paw thumping the ground. "Of course you are!" She giggled afterward, smiling at him, "Who wouldn't be?"
Vanity of the young. Either way, she didn't seem inclined to berate or tease him about it, tail thumping on the ground instead. No, unwitting torture was always her favorite route. She scooted over beside him and gave him a long lick up his neck and cheek. "I don't mind, if you're a lion-hyena. If you were something different that'd be weird." Izulu nodded, "Besides, I'm the only female around so isn't that natural?" She tilted her head a little, think about that. "Other than Kinge, but Kinge is not a lion of any sort. That would be strange."
The concept of Izulu finding anything strange was still one to be boggled at, but if they did she paid no mind to it. Instead her tail thumped a little harder and she gave a gleeful bark, "You can be my new boyfriend!" It wouldn't do to tell him that the others had been killed--at least, in her imagination.
"Oh!" She gasped suddenly, ears perking, and looked towards the only true lion of their bunch, "But poor Enok! I gave his affections up so easily." She covered one paw for a moment, looking mournful. That passed faster than a gnat's attention, "Well! I'll just have to find a girl for him. We can't be a good pride with only one couple, anyway."
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 12:35 am
Had Enok been a hyena himself, he would have barked with laughter at the scene; as it was however, he decided to retain some sort of haughtyness about him. His resolve shattered upon looking at Oth's expression and the lion had to practicaly lean his large frame against a boulder in his attempt to not kneel over, "Silly Oth indeed!" came the barked laughter, making it obvious the hyena had rubbed off on him almost as much as he had rubbed on the canine, "Oh good lord..." there were no other words that seemed posible at the moment. In fact, most of the lion's concentration was fixed upon an attempt to keep himself straight, a paw holding his side, the other gripping the boulder's hard surface.
It took Othieno a good three minutes to be able to snap out of his bewildered stat; his mouth had been hanging over, the blood that still dribbled down from it falling freely till the female granted him a long lick.
This was wrong, his mind shouted at him, oh-so-very-wrong, on some many
Just as Oth seemed to gain the upper hand, Enok found the roles reversed and noted he did not like the fact that they were, "Hey, hey; I don't NEED a girlfriend!"
"Oh, sure you do! Don't bring the gal down from the clouds yet; she hasn't groomed me yet."
A pause, followed by a frown, "Screw you, Oth!"
"That's not YOUR job, I'm proud to say!"
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 10:40 am
"its mine," Izulu stated bluntly with a nod. She giggled, lowering her head to lick the blood from Oth's jaw. That done the female tilted her head at their 'brother.' or 'pride mate'... or really, whatever Izulu felt like claiming him as at that moment. It was amusing, in its own way, though Enok wasn't likely to think so at the moment. That seemed to the way that things went around here, though. One of them would be amused with her, the other annoyed, and they'd never be on the same side about it.
The entire situation was bloody hilarious, in the end. "Of course you do, Enok!" She gasped then shook her head, "Every male lion should have a pride to feed him. I can't feel the both of you by myself, and it isn't right that you still have to hunt. Besides that, don't you want love?" Randomly the idea of love came popping into the hyena's mind. That was possibly a first, possibly not. It seemed like ideas formed and dropped from her mind like a faucet did water. The metaphor was slightly broken, of course, but only as much as Izulu was. "Its settled then," She stamped one forpaw on the ground, though nothing had yet been settled, "We'll have to find Enok a girlfriend."
With that, Izulu stood and nipped Oth's ear. "Come on! Weren't we wanting to get to the mountains before tonight?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 4:30 am
Othieno smirked as he aimed a leer at the lion, "It sure damn IS," he barked at Izulu's claim, looking quite proud of himself, "You heard the girl!" dipping his tongue out of his maw, the male licked his muzzle clean of any trace of blood; it'd finally stopped dripping, the small gash inside his mouth having healed rather swiftly with the help of saliva.
As Izulua continued to explain her course of thought, the hyena found himself sitting down, the smirk still in place, however, an arched brow was added to the mix. It was quite a contradiction to Enok's own expression, which looked not only taken back by the mere idea of Izulu thinking he needed a 'girlfriend', but also terribly embarrassed by the notion he'd need a female to hunt for him. Oth thought this to be rather hilarious however; probably due to all the pent up stress he'd been harboring in the past few days, "Oi, 'Zulu, baby..." he paused her, having had half an idea of rebuking her claim they NEEDED a female to feed them, however, stopped short and rolled his eyes at his own stupidity.
What the hell. Can't beat 'em; join 'em!
After a moment's pause, during which the female nipped at his ear playfully, Oth snapped out of his reverie, offering his brother a smirk, "Yah know, she might just be right, if only partially. Maybe you DO need a gal," and this said, he turned and jumped after the purple form that was swiftly moving through the grass.
Enok on the other hand, was left alone for a few moments, gawking moronically at the retreating pair, "But... but..." frowning, the lion stood up, finally deeming it necessary to bound after the hyenas, "Hey! Don't /I/ get a say in this?!" he growled after them, however, even he knew that calling after them was a futile activity. It'd get him nowhere, for if Oth and Izulu shared one trait of personality, it was that they were both the most bull-headed morons he'd ever had the pleasure of meeting. Add that to the fact they had ganged up against him and Enok was sure hell was about to break lose. Pausing briefly, the male lifted his head up to the sky, and let out a sigh, "Why me?"
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