[PRV] A sense of deja'vu (Bodaway/Kohpi)

[Andranis]

Location: Somewhere at the edge of the western Firekin/Prideland border

Change was in the wind. The old lion could smell it, feel it in the sands, taste it in the waters of the one watering hole. As he hunted in the far reaches of the desert, he wondered... What changes were coming? Would his old body survive it? Though granted, he wasn't nearly as old as Siraj. Now there was an old lion...

Bodaway paused, sniffing the air. But prey wasn't what he smelled, another lion was what he smelled. It seemed somehow... Familiar. But how? Giving up the hunt, he turned and headed in the direction of the scent, determined to find out.  

[Andranis]

As the beetle inched along, a delicate pink nose followed it. The small bug didn't seem to much mind the white, orange, and yellow giant following it, nor did it seem to notice. It certainly didn't know that, by no genetic fault of its own, the 'giant' was actually quite small compared to others of the species. It certainly didn't know it wasn't alone, either, but that was a different matter.

Kohpi giggled, nudging the beetle with her nose. Childish and playful, she seemed oblivious of the world around her. Seemed, but wasn't. She wasn't oblivious to the fact her sons were nowhere to be found. The beetle was just a very good distraction from her grief. It flew off, leaving the little lioness to sit and wonder what to do now. She sniffed the air, wondering where her mother had gotten off to. What she did smell was somebody new. A new friend, perhaps? She turned and went trotting towards the new presence, ears perked and a smile on her face.  

[Andranis]

As the desert became grasslands, Bodaway found the smell growing stronger. Mingled with it was another scent... An all too familiar scent. He paused, closing his eyes. A purr rumbled deep in the mighty lion's chest as memories of loving times surfaced. Meeting Kabichi, his daughter by adoption, had triggered them, and now anything that could trigger a memory did.

A glimmer of white in the grasses made him stop. The pattern was familiar... Was it Kabichi? What was she doing out here? But as the strange lioness got closer, he realised that no, it wasn't Kabichi. Yet... She LOOKED like Kabichi... He walked slowly towards her, brow furrowed.  

[Andranis]

The little lioness stopped when she'd gotten close enough to run if need be. Her mother had told her to be wary of strange lions, knowing from experience what it was like to be attacked, and she'd passed it down to her own sons. After all, they were rogues - They had no pride to keep them safe. She'd learned that lesson already, to be wary of strange lions.

Tail curling, she watched the massive red male. He made her think of Mother, so red in pelt. Her face cracked into a smile ears still perked. "Hi there! Who're you?" She lifted a paw a bit before putting it back down. "I'm Kohpi!"  

[Andranis]

No, deffinately not Kabichi. Bodaway slowly began to circle the lioness, taking in every marking and every bit of her scent. "I'm Bodaway..." He paused, ears flicking. "Do you know Kabichi...?" Or for that matter... Mioyo... His tail curled, the black and red hairs brushing the grasses.  

[Andranis]

Almost instantly, she was all over him, sniffing and butting and investigating. "You know sissy?!" She'd not seen her sister in FOREVER! This meant Kabichi was ALIVE! "Momma's gonna be so happy, Kabichi's alive!" She purred, not seeming to care she barely knew him. Suddenly she sat down. "And Momma's gonna be happy to know you're alive!" She'd naturally been told of the mighty red lion, and was thrilled to meet him.  

[Andranis]

Her mother would be happy...? As in, future tense? As in... Mioyo LIVED? Bodaway watched the little lioness in disbelief, shocked to hear that his old flame could be rekindled. Mioyo... His beloved... She lived... He sat down, body sagging a bit. "Mioyo's alive..." He looked at Kohpi, ears perking before he nodded. "Yes... Kabichi lives... She's in the Pridelands..." He couldn't stop thinking about it. Mioyo lived... He suddenly stood up, thinking of Jua'taka. The seer cub... She could tell him more...  

[Andranis]

The little lioness bounced, nudging the large male. "Come see, Momma will be happy!" Red eyes danced as she looked up, the smile reflecting her pure and mostly untainted innocence. There were just some things even the lessons of life couldn't reach, and Kohpi seemed amid them.  

[Andranis]

Sparing a glance at the desert, the home he'd walked and searched so long and hard for, the male gave into his urges. He wanted... NEEDED to see her. Mioyo, his Mioyo... Standing up, he started walking. "T-take me to her... Please..." And what of their son...? Did he live, too? He hoped that he did.  

[Andranis]

Bouncing back and forth, Kohpi turned and hurried off. The beetle was long forgotten, and her objective was clear. Momma needed to see this big red lion! She paused a moment, pawing a bush. "Darshana, come on! We gotta show Momma the big red male!" Out of the bush poked a green hare, who eyed the massive lion. If Kophi trusted him... She jumped out, settling on the lioness' back for the ride.  

[Andranis]

The hare was intrigueing to him, but Bodaway wasn't about to stop and ask. Tail curled up out of range of the ground, he hurried after the little lioness. Mioyo... He was going to see Mioyo! It took effort to not run ahead of her, as it would prove him losing his way. Again. He didn't want or need that, after all.