|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 10:25 am
She recognized the signs immediately, having experienced them once before. With mixed feelings she went on with life as usual, meeting people, spending time with Imara, hunting, getting used to the new lands. So far she had encountered two, Shin and Ezekiel, though he preferred to go by Zeki, so she called him such. She'd also met the queen, Kamilika, of course, and the head scout, Mosi. She was actually beginning to feel eager to make more acquaintances and friends, she wanted her children to have as many positive influences as possible, and she could tell that this time there would be many more than just one. An exact number was beyond her scope, and she did feel anxious and nervous at the idea of being a single mother to so many, but, she knew that she had a solid support system now to fall back on.
Just a few weeks along now and she was already showing. Her abdomen had swollen a considerable amount. She'd been teaching Imara how to hunt, and while she hated pushing her work off on her daughter, did have to rely on her usually to bring food home. Today Imara was out doing her own thing, Kimya refusing to let the child worry or dote on her that day.
However, now Kimya was growing hungry, and found herself carrying her new found girth towards the watering hole in hopes of catching some fish. She might not be able to hunt herds anymore, but she could at least do -that-. It must have been a sight to those familiar with the new huntress, seeing her in such a state.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 1:13 pm
After having done his meeting, he had wondered if it was about time if he should find a den for himself. He certainly was of age, able to wander on his own and hunt solo as well! Now, the Kudu were nothing but an annoyance, but their meat was absolutely delicious! If only Al-ha could see him now, worry wart thought he couldn't hunt them! ... or perhaps it was because he was still too small to be able to. He was old enough, he just needed to find the perfect place for his little home. Perhaps invite a female or two to share his company as the house warming. He chuckled at who exactly who he should invite... if anyone for that matter. The joked played in his head for a while.
Seeing Safuma again, it made him realize that nothing stays the same for long and that their memories were all they had left of their cub days. She was growing. He was growing. Everything around them seemed to be. She was still a cute little cubbish girl, but she was starting to grow into a fine lioness. He could only imagine the male who was lucky enough to have her heart, though, he'd have to check them out before they even lay a paw on his best friend. Zeki laughed as he walked toward the water hole. Today, he had overslept, missing his morning runs as the sun was already above him. Ezeoha's sleeping habits were starting to affect him too.
As he neared the water hole, he looked down at his own reflection, thinking. He had grown up a lot, taught by his uncles, but he had to grow up himself. Even with his teachers' help, he had to grown on his own, not having the freedom to do so was like daily training! His blazing orange mane just fell over his eyes, just as they always do when he ran. He needed to maintain it somehow because it was simply annoying. Even with them in his eyes, the cowlick, that seemed to be generic in his father's family or something, was still and always will be there. Flipping his head back to get the mane away, Zeki dropped down gracefully and drank to his hearts content. Rather, his stomach's.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 8:04 pm
She wouldn't have guessed another encounter with Zeki this soon, but as she neared her fishing spot she spotted the familiar golden pelt and slowed to a stop just after emerging from the rustling grasses. Maybe feeling self conscious, she spoke quietly, trying to be discreet about her added weight.
"Hello, Zeki." She greeted softly, settling down at the edge of the water. She'd wait until he replied before searching for her meal.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 11:17 am
His ears perked, his eyes glanced over to the female before picking up his head. It was Kimya! He smiled and made his way over boldly with a suave smile on his face. He did not plan to meet anyone he knew out here, but here was one of the females he had met just recently. The poor girl was a mother and alone it seemed. As he approached closer, something about her seemed... different.
"Hello there, Kimya, I did not plan to run into you today," he chuckled. "Well, it seems fate had a change of heart. How are you?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 12:26 pm
"So it would seem," She smiled a bit, not for lack of sincerity, just for the fact that she wasn't really the perky, cheery type. "I'm well, just a little hungry, I'd hoped to fish today. How are you? Fairing well I hope."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 12:28 pm
"I be alright, I just came for a drink for my own hunt, but I'm staying to fish now that you are here. Perhaps I can offer my paw for help?" he chuckled as he sat near her, facing the water himself. In all honesty, he had never fished before... he had eaten them and they were hard to eat with all those scales, but the meat was delicious! He only had them when he was a cub and his father got them for him, skinned it and gave him only the meat.
"... uh... would you like to go first, Kimya?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 12:33 pm
To this offer Kimya actually grinned a little. It seemed like she'd noticed his uncertainty, and found it endearing. Rising again, with surprising ease, she moved further ahead and into the pool. She stopped not far in the shallows and waited, eyes following the shadowed shapes darting away.
"Well, it's hardly a quick meal, like Zebra or Gazelle, but if you're patient it can be worthwhile." She purred, waiting for the fish to settle and calm again, for one to draw close enough to her for her to snatch with her jaws. Thankfully the watering hole was neither too deep or too wide, like a lake, or they'd have quite the time catching anything at all. "This is the best I can do right now though." She admitted, eyes glued to the surface.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 12:45 pm
Zeki watched carefully until she stopped, doing nothing, he found it a good time to do this himself. Mimicking her movements would be the best way for him to learn, imitation. The male moved around the water hole and entered from the opposite side so he didn't startle the fish on Kimya's side.
"I have tasted them before, they are worthwhile if you waited a day," he smiled as he swatted down at a shadow, however missing. His ears pinned back as he snarled lightly. He did it again and missed again. He looked up at Kimya who remained still. Perhaps this was her secret.... so Zeki did the same.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 12:55 pm
"Easy, Zeki, fish spook very easily. They can feel the movement in the water." She corrected gently. "Use your jaws instead of your paws."
She waited a few moments, then demonstrated. She missed the body of the fish but managed to snap her jaws shut around it's tail with good timing. Lifting her head, she steeled her muscles against it's flailing, and drew back to bring it around to Zeki's side of the hole, dropping it on the ground after ensuring it wouldn't flop away. She gave the younger lion an encouraging nod in the direction of the water.
"Try again,"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 1:01 pm
Zeki watched the shadows move about around his paws, brushing up against him with their rough scales. He growled lightly before snapping his jaws down on one that hung too long around his paw. Pulling it up, he noticed that he had gotten it on one of its fins. Before he could move around, he got hit on the cheek by a good tail slap. Dropping the fish, he snarled and chased after it.
"You didn't say they could do that!" he growled as he chased the shadow in the water. Hunting in the water was a lot harder than it was on the ground. She was right, hunting gazelle and zebra were much easier than annoying fish. Failing twice and getting hit, he was starting to think it was not worth the while if it kept up like this. With a good swat, the fish flailed through the air before hitting the dirt along the bank, left gasping for air.
"HAH!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 1:04 pm
She tried, oh, she tried so hard not to burst out laughing, but after the shock of his assault wore off she just couldn't help it anymore. It was almost like being with her brothers again, and that was a good feeling. She moved aside as the fish hit the shore, pinning it down with one paw even as her laughter faded to soft giggles.
"I'm sorry, it's just, I haven't seen something like that since my brother Kamal tried to learn how to fish." She laughed a bit again, not even feeling embarrassed enough about it to help her stop.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 1:13 pm
He chuckled as he licked her cheek lightly.
"Thanks, at least you are happy that I got smacked in the face by a fish, Kimya," looking down at the fish, he pawed at his as it had stopped breathing. Poor thing... but it was to hunt to eat and eat to live. He chuckled as he picked it up to her.
"Well, at least we caught one. Hungry?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 1:23 pm
She did feel her laughter stop at the feeling of his tongue against her cheek, -that- alone enough to cause one of her well known shy flushes.
"Oh, it's alright, you eat it, you caught it. I have mine." She motioned to the other fish she'd caught by demonstration for him. Fish would give her more energy, though she'd need to catch more to still the appetite that pregnancy brought with it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 1:29 pm
His voice fell to a whisper as he nudged it to her again. His ears fell back and a soft smile fell over his maw. His deep red eyes looked into hers. He could not take this... at least not this one.
"You take it... a mother to be has to eat, she is not eating for herself anymore, she's eating for herself and the lives she's brining into our world," he nudged her softly. "I'll catch something later, for now, this is all for you. Besides, you don't think I wouldn't notice did you?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 1:36 pm
Kimya's ears flattened to her head, realizing she'd been found out.
"I... thought, maybe you hadn't." She confessed, not that she minded him knowing, just that she felt guilty taking what she hadn't earned. Even during her last pregnancy she only ate what she herself was able to catch or scavenge.
That was rogue life for you though, as a single mother, you learned to cut corners and make due. It wasn't like that here though, something she'd have to adjust to. She still looked humbled, but accepted graciously as he presented his line of reasoning.
"Thank you, Zeki." She murmured quietly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
