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 Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 9:10 am
Amari roused himself from his den and glanced back into it's vast emptiness. A little grey flecked the fur around his muzzle and laced in the caramel shades of his mane. However, he was still a large lion and he was still a proud one. Yet, now, without his mate he felt weakened.
Finally, after all this time, his age was catching up with him.
He had dreamt that night, alone in the shadow of his home, of his mother and two brothers. The brothers who had bullied him and his mother, who had let them. His memories of them had faded until they were hardly there at all. Yet the dream had brought back a memory more starking than any he had ever witnessed before.
He had lain away from his family, sitting apart from them as was usual, listening to his mother gathering them with her words. She had sspoken then, of a tale so glorious that the cubs were awestruck. She spoke of a pride of Dawnwalkers, who lived in a temple far away by the banks of a beautiful oasis. She said that her own family had been tied to that pride. She spoke of jackals and Amari remembered with clear precision, the pictures she painted into her mind. The sun rolling in a clear-blue sky and a desert broken by a brilliant line of green.
Now, standing at the entrance of the den that was no longer his home, he thought to that place and wondered...wondered if it still existed.
"What should I do, love?" He whispered.
Chunuka was padding up to his father, hesitantly at best. His head was low, his eyes deep blue. He was a male version of his mother, inheriting Amari's lone marking, the anchor emblazoned on his shoulder.
He paused a few steps away, unsure what to do or say. Something was wrong with Amari and thinking about it, he hadn't seen Maawio at all recently.
He stepped forth and cleared his throat. "Hey." He called, though his voice broke.
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Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 9:19 am
"Dad, come on dad where are we going just tell me!" she was tired but her father insisted on bringing her somewhere today. Oo! Maybe someplace to train to be stronger, or faster, or both! Imara wriggled with anticipation as she walked beside her father, she adored him so, wanted to be strong just like him.
Imara would become a warrior, or what her father called an amazon.
She grinned as she padded along,
Inari glanced down at his daughter will golden eyes, she was so excited all of the time! But that was good, she could always be excited, that was just fine with him. "Imara, please be patient, you'll see, we're almost there," truth be told Inari was nervous too.
He hadn't come back here in so long.
He wondered what his father would say....his mother...anyone.
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Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 9:25 am
Amari's head snapped up, and his eyes softened as he saw Chunuka approaching him. His fur gleamed gold, gold like his mother's. His heart clenched and his eyes filled with tears, forcing him to turn his head. He moved away from the den and drew in a deep breath, forcing back the tears so that no one would know his heart ache.
But it was impossible. The grief was pouring up and out of his entire being, leaving the huge lion trembling very slightly.
"Hey 'Nuka. What are you doing here, eh?" He tried to laugh, but the sound cracked and sounded hollow. He heard more voices and flicked his ears, turning to see his other son. What was going on here? Was it some sort of special occasion?
Inari...Inari did not walk alone.
The large male felt something swell in his chest, something between joy and terrible grief. Was that cub...was that cub his granddaughter? Had...had Maawio missed seeing her grandchild? His heart gave an almighty twitch and Amari was forced to sit.
"Just thought I'd come and see you..." He scented the air but to his surprise, there was no scent of his mother's here. Wait, there was, but it was ever so faint. "It's been too long and I thought...well I thought you might be lonely."
He turned his head to see his brother approaching and his eyes fell on the cub too. "Hey there, 'Ari." He called over. "Are congratulation in order, bro?"
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Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 9:31 am
Inari saw as he approached that his golden eyes saw the golden form of his brother and the oh so familiar figure of his father. His heart swelled and ached, what would his father say to him, his brother, would they be mad, disown him? Inari wanted his daughter, eldest daughter to meet her grandfather, to see him adn know him and be proud of her blood. Imara looked so much like Sarabi, but her blood was that of himself, and Amari, and his mother.
Mother, where was she?
Peering around he didn't see her form anywhere, her scent so faint, what had happened?
Inari thought of the worst. Why hadn't he been here?
Though he grinned when he heard his brother's words, stopped when he came close enough, Imara stopping at his side, "Perhaps," nudging his forehead against his brother's he pulled back, let his eyes fall to his father, then to Imara,
"This is your grandpa, and uncle,Imara, say hi."
W-w-what!? Imara opened her tiny jaw in awe. She had an uncle, and a grandpa!? Why didn't daddy tell her! Pushing against Inari's forelimbs she let her bright eyes fall on the other two. She stood straight up, back straight, head held high and smiled.
She wanted to look strong, make the proud.
"Hi! I'm Imara."
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Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 9:38 am
Chunuka looked at Imara with happiness and jealousy. What a pretty daughter! Why couldn't he find a mate and have a family too? Wasn't he cute enough to attract a female?
"You sure did keep this a secret, bro." He laughed it off. Ah well, he was young yet, maybe he'd find someone. And if not, hell, maybe he'd go adopt some little'uns himself.
"From dad too." He turned his eyes to his father and lifted his ears. "Hey dad, where's mum got to?"
Despite his sadness, the voice of the little one brought a smile to Amari's face. He turned to look at her and his ears flicked forwards. "Hello Imara." He glanced up at his son and nodded. "She's a little beauty. You must be very proud of her." He didn't ask who the mother was, didn't ask anything else. He didn't mind about any of that. It wasn't unusual for children to stray from their parents. In fact he was sure that he'd never see any of them again.
But here they were.
"Congratulations Inari." All he knew now was that his two sons were alive, healthy and happy and were beginning to enjoy the pleasures of life that he had. A shame that life seemed to move oh so fast.
At Chunuka's question the elder lion started and turned his head away very slightly. How could he...? How could he tell them? "She's...she's..." No, he couldn't say it. He couldn't find the right words and now...now really wasn't the time for that.
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Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 9:48 am
Imara beamed with pride as she looked at Amari, padded over to him adn purred, snuggling herself against his forearm, then she saw it...TAIL! Immediately she crouched down adn inched around him, and pounced, trying to bat at his tail, such childish games. But the tails always evaded her! Everyone's did!
"Urrrr-rawr!" she mock growled with a squeak.
Too young for roaring yet.
Inari chuckled at Imara and looked to his father and smiled, bowing his head a little bit, "Thanks dad...I've missed you," Inari still didn't want to tell about his interlude's with the god of war, to become a warrior, his mate and such, but he was glad his father was speaking to him, his brother too. "Imara has wo sisters too, little rascals they are."
But his mother...why couldn't dad tell them?
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Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 9:56 am
Chunuka watched the kiddo's playful antics with a swish of his own tail. He missed being that little, with no worries, no cares. He was fed up with looking for a mate, fed up with searching for love. Maybe some lions just didn't get hooked up. Maybe he was meant to be that lone ranger, whose heart could never twine. Either way, he was going to push that aside for now.
He smiled. "Damn, you're gonna have your paws full with three girls." He laughed. "Hey, dad?"
He frowned, something was wrong here and a terrible feeling of dread had begun to creep up into his chest. Where was mum!? He wanted to scream it but he could tell his father was not happy with discussing it. However, with the kid distracted...maybe...maybe he could be persuaded.
"Is mother gone, dad?"
Amari swished his tail to encourage the girl's play. Cubs, oh how he had missed them. Being so small was a wonderful gift. The games, the innocence, the laughter. She had her whole life ahead of her. In fact, watching her young spirit enjoying such simple games made him feel younger already.
Maybe things wouldn't be all that bad.
"I've missed you all, very much. In fact, I'm glad you came boys. I've been meaning to find you all, your sister included." He spoke after a moment, completely blanking Chunuka's question. "Have either of you seen your sister?" Where was kiasi? He turned his head but she was nowhere in sight.
"I probably should have found you sooner but I've been reluctant to leave the den." He gave his tail another swish. "I guess I've put it off long enough." He sighed, turned his head to watch the cub.
"She's gone." He whispered softly, remembering the day it had happened.
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Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 3:38 pm
Three girls, three future warrioress' of the pridelands. Inari's girls would be strong, he'd see to that fact. Inari arched a brow at Imara while she seemed to be more than thrilled with her grandfather's tail, however, Amari's words sank deep into Inari's heart.
Mom was...gone?
He felt a pang of ache in his heart, and gaped at his father for a moment, and then composed himself, "Is she okay dad... mean...do you know if she is?"
Imara's dark ears swiveled forward and she crouched down, pouncing at her grampie's tail. How much fun! This one wasn't as fast as daddy's, but still strong and easily able to avoid her paws. How interesting!
"Where's grammie grampie? I wanna see her, please?" she asked with wide eyes, she wanted to see her grandma and show her how much she looked like a past queen like daddy said.
Though she didn't understand.
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Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 12:16 am
Chunuka's heart felt like it had been torn from his chest. Unconsciously he moved closer to Inari, seeking comfort from his brother. What did he mean, gone? Gone could mean anything! But mother...mother wouldn't leave without a good reason.
His eyes fixed upon his father's aging, greying face and he grew fearful. He heard his brother's words and watched his father's face. Suddenly he wanted to run away. He didn't want to hear anymore.
He didn't even hear the cub's exclamation, to caught up in his heart-crushing fear.
"She was sick." Amari replied, his voice was coarse, thick with tears. He held his tail to hover in the air and looked down at the cub as she spoke. "You won't see her yet sweetheart. But you'll see her one day..."
He raised his head, tried to gain some composure but it was obviously difficult for him to do so. "She was recovering, or so I thought, she wanted to go out for a walk, to see her children..." His voice broke again and his head drooped. "She never came back."
And he knew why.
He knew why.
Maawio was dead. "She's gone to the stars." But had she?
(( sorry for the lame way Maawio was said to 'die' I couldn't have her die in front of him cos Zo never said I could. But, since I don't think she'll ever come back to RP I had to free up Amari somehow.))
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Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 11:24 am
((Awww that was a cute way to say it ;; <3))
The stars? Inari watched his father and inched closer to his brother, though refused to let tears come to his golden orbs. He was a warrior, he could not show weakness, or pain, but he felt it, he felt it so much and it tore at his heart.
His daughters would never be able to see her...least not in this life.
"Dad...I'm sorry," and he was sorry he was not here to help, Inari peeked down at Imara, and wished to hold her close, but he wasn't sure if she'd understand, not yet at least.
Imara tilted her head at Grampie, and stopped chasing his tail. Stars, how could she get way up there? "Does Grammie have wings Grampie, is that how she got way up there, huh? Do I get wings too like a bird? I want to go see her..."
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Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 8:58 am
Chunuka was not so good at keeping his emotions in check. The shock of it hit him full force and he staggered, his ears and head drooping. His eyes brimmed with tears which were soon tracing lines down the sides of his muzzle.
He couldn't believe it.
"Mother..." He gasped. "Mother!" He shook his head and leaned to press his head against his brother's shoulder. Inari's strength comforted him, though he knew the rusty male must have been finding it hard too.
"But father...what will happen now?" The words were quiet, muffled. "Father, why didn't you come and find us? Oh father, dad, I'm so sorry. I should have come sooner."
"Yes." Amari replied with a faint smile. "She has wings, just like a bird and she shines brighter than any star." She hadn't been a queen but with her gentle, loving ways, Amari knew it would have gotten her a place up there.
"She's happy now." He muttered. "But there's..." He falted as he looked up into his sons' faces. He saw the hurt in Inari's face and the tears on Chunuka's.
"Something else..." How could he tell them he intended to leave too? Leave them just after they found out their mother was gone too?
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Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 10:41 am
"Don't worry grampie! You and me, we'll find a way to make wings to! And then we'll go see her, huh?" Imara said with excitement, this was the only time that she acted so happy, so giddy, apart from when she was training herself to get stronger. But the thought of seeing her grandmother with wings, it was such a wondrous idea!
"What else grampa?" she asked tilting her head, sitting right in front of him with a smile on her face.
Inari watched his father with a suspiscious gaze, something else? What else? Inari was hurt enough already by hte loss of his mother, shining light. He had lost his mother now, and he ha lost Sarabi, who helped Inari and made him feel safe and at home. He prayed he wouldn't lose something else, bu he had an itching feeling.
The brown pelted male said nothing as his brother leaned against him, as he watched his daughter with a shining golden gaze, she didn't understand, and wouldn't, for a while longer.
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Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 12:14 am
He smiled weakly down at the cub, such innocence. If only he could be so oblivious to the pains of life again. It seemed he had been grown up for a long time.
"Not yet sweetie." He replied. "You can't get your wings until your bigger." He hugged her. "I'll find them first and watch over you from the sky." He shook his mane and sighed, glancing up at his boys.
Chunuka felt sick, totally and utterly sick. He couldn't believe what he was hearing! Mother, his mother... He whimpered, flattened his ears tight against his head and said nothing. What could he say?
He already had suspicions of what his father was going to say. Amari had been a rogue, a traveller, he had often told them that it was hard to stay put. Now, without Maawio to tie him down, his paws were itching. Chunuka didn't want to lose father too.
He didn't want to lose anyone.
Grief-stricken, Chunuka turned and fled, running as fast as his paws could take him. He didn't look back, didn't stop to conasider the fact that he should stay. He had to be alone, he had to think but most of all, he had to find Kiasi.
Kiasi would be able to talk him out of it.
Amari watched his golden son leave with a sinking heart. He knew that Chunuka had guessed his intentions, maybe even thought him a coward for doing so. But right now, Amari needed the journey to heal. He needed to get away from everything that reminded him of his lost love.
Who knows, maybe he'd be back one day.
"I'll be leaving Inari." It hurt him to say it. "I need...I need to get away."
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Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 7:47 pm
Him first? But why? Imara pouted and watched him, then turned and sat next to her father's leg, leaning on him. She wanted to fly with grandpa to see grandma! Why couldn't she go with him too? Watching him she stayed silent and watched, watched as her uncle ran away...for which she was unsure.
She wasn't sure of anything at this moment.
"Leaving?" she peeped, mimicking paroting her grandfather's words.
But why?
Inari watched his father with golden eyes. Inari didn't know how to comprehend what his father had to be feeling in his heart, mind and blood. The rusty brown pelted male felt guilt for not being their when his father needed him, felt guilty for not being able to help his mom.
Why hadn't he come back sooner?
"Wil you at least come back someday?"
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Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 2:43 am
His joints creaked as he shifted his position, standing squarely to face his son, though occasionally his eyes fell to the cub. Why was he leaving? He asked himself. Why was he leaving behind everything that had been good in his life?
Because, he thought bitterly, nothing remains here for me. Nothing. His children no longer needed him, his mate was gone and now the land was hollow.
"I will. The world is not so big. I plan to find the land of my ancestors, where once my father and mother lived. I do not know where it is but I will look and I will keep on looking until I do." He smiled softly.
"Tell Chunuka...tell him I'm sorry, and tell Kiasi too." His heart lurched as he thought of her. Kiasi had always been special because she was his only daughter, he had spoiled her, yes, but he didn't regret it, not really.
"Take care of your little ones, Inari, keep them safe." He stepped forwards and glanced into his son's face. He saw in their youth, life, spirit. He had had those things once, long ago. He had lost so much. Getting old was not fun.
A golden coloured femme ran along the dusty ground, each paw thrusting herself towards the river in thirsty anticipation. She reclined swiftly and began to lap up the water, the deep sapphire occuli of hers surveying the plains before her. Her maw opening into a graceful yawn, showing the white shining ivories of the juvenile. She lowered herself to the ground slightly and gazed to the sky, the sun almost blinding her as she did so.
Basking in the delightful sun was a brilliant young male, his mane was just starting to thicken out and already he was showing promise of becoming a fine male.
He had been lying, draped across a large flat rock that overlooked the river, his eyes half-lidded as sleep threatened to take him. For a moment though he thought there had been no other presence around...but no.
A young female - a beautiful young female - had happened to cross his path. Could this be destiny?
He pulled himself up onto his paws, shook his mane and leapt down onto the grass, his paws making a dull thud on contact.
"Why hello there beautiful." He purred, she hadn't seemed to have noticed him.
Maawio lifted her maw from the water and blinked towards the male. She had never been spoken to like that before. She smiled slightly. "H-hi... Im Maawio" She said, forcing herself to become more confident. He was a fine male, and a juvenile, like herself. "Whats your name?" She asked, her wide eyes looking up to him as she was still reclined.
"Such an elegant name, suiting for someone of your looks." He bowed his head, moving to sit beside her, his eyes settling on her pretty, yet graceful features.
"No need to look so nervous my dear. I am Amari, quite famous in these parts you know." Well that of course was a lie. He wasn't famous for anything other than eyeing up women and getting into fight with fellow lions of his age.
"Do you need some company? I have a window open in my schedule today." He flashed a charming but rather toothy grin at her. Oh how he had missed this.
Their first meeting. The meeting that had changed his life forever. He had never forgotten it. It brought the gleam of tears to his eyes and he turned away.
"I have to go." He cast one last glance at the cub, smiling softly. "You'll be okay. You both will. Just take care of each other. Inari, I'm so proud of you, of all of you. Your mother is too."
And slowly he turned, trotting off as fast as his weary body would allow. He paused only to glance back and roar a farewell. His eyes rose to the pinnacle of rock and he wondered with a heavy heart, if he would ever see it again.
And so it was that he departed the Pridelands, a land that Maawio had loved with such a passion. A land where now her body lay, untouched, restful and eternal.
The tears glistened down his face.
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