|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 9:45 am
Some elderly mothers often grew weaker after they had given birth, tired after the physical and mental strain it took to raise young. Some died, some grew crippled and weak. But others flourished. Others entered into a new sense of life and strength and Ripuka was one of these.
Her haggard expression had lightened, her fur had regained a healthy glow. It was as if giving birth had stripped years from her. Now, as she sat, staring out across the expanse of gold, she could have been mistaken for younger than the elderly old girl she truly was.
She was nicely rounded in the stomach, muscular and strong. A muscle twitched in her neck as she raised her head to a breeze, breathing deeply the rich perfume of her home.
Wakia and Jua had taken a lot of work but motherhood had seemed suitable for her. Ripuka was a born teacher and having new students, students of her creation had brought out a deep motherly love inside of her. For the first time in a long while she felt useful and she felt strong. It was as if raising fine traditionalists had helped her gain more control of the rapidly declining situation.
The troubles were always there, though, and the clash between Kidondo and his father that fateful day often replayed in her mind.
She knew the young prince, she knew his intelligence, his honour and she knew deep down that she would see him again before her life was up. She yawned, her tongue curling and she settled again, only a few paces from her den.
She liked days like these, lounging days where she could do all the relaxing she wanted.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 9:54 am
Ny was out looking for her children, they were getting bigger and wanted more independance, she knew this but she also knew what would happen one of these days and she wanted to make sure the children would be out of the way. She didn't want one of them being killed accedently.
She lowered her head as she walked. She was becomming more and more tired recently. All this waiting. It was too much to bear and she just wanted it to be over with so her family could live happily again. It was a surprise when she saw Ripuka infront of her. It hit her chest as well. She loved the female like a mother but yet she was having to keep this a secret from her and how it would hurt her when Ny followed the heir.
"Ripuka, you look well."
The white female trotted over to her and let a smile cross her maw. She just had to keep it together for a little bit longer, surely he wouldn't be that much longer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 10:03 am
Ripuka turned her head at the sound of her name, catching sight of the white lioness through her one good eye. She gave a small chirp of a greeting and shifted aside, a sign for Ny to join her.
"I feel well." She replied, flexing her shoulders. "Life has been most kind to me recently, though I'm not sure how long it will last." She sighed and then focused in on Ny's face. The female was built like a Firekin, though she barely had a scrap of red on her. She was strong with a fine featured face. But today that beautiful face looked different. There was a weariness there in her eyes that hadn't been there before.
"Ny, you look troubled." Ripuka sat. She adored Ny like a daughter, just as she loved all of her students. Just as she had loved Kidondo. She couldn't help it, she grew attached! They were her kin and she loved her kin, her heritage, her pride. "Is there something wrong?" Her fiery tail thumped against the ground as she moved. "If you wish to share your burdens I will lend a trustworthy ear."
It worried her to see youngsters looking so weary.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:01 pm
Ny moved towards the older lioness and smiled as Ripuka spoke somewhat. It made Ny a little uneasy having to keep something back from the old lioness but she knew Ripuka must be able to feel the uneasy aura that seemed to hang over the pride at the moment.
"Ripuka why is all not well? Kimeti is our king yet the pride seems to be all over the place. So many differing opinions and what are we suppose to believe and teach our children? They will decide the pride one day and how do I know that what I am telling them now will help the pride when it is not whole now?" That was a fair comment to make. It was something that worried Ny and it was common knowledge that there were differing opinions throughout the pride.
Ny wished to tell the lioness of Kidondo's plans but she couldn't. She was to break the lionesses heart as he did and she couldn't make it sooner then it had to be. Oh where was he?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 2:18 pm
Ripuka nodded. The whole pride was in turmoil and she kew exactly why. She stood and turned to Ny, a comforting, motherly look on her face. She had never been able to make such a gentle expression before she had birthed her cubs, but she had learnt it quickly enough.
"Dear Ny..." She blinked, hesitated and then continued. "Kimeti is a good King, a wise King, this is not his doing nor is it ours, child." She shook her head and her face hardened. "No, this is Kidondo's doing. He stabbed the claw of uncertainty into the hearts of those who were there to hear, the young and impressionable were touched and moved by their words for they are not old enough to remember." She stepped closer. "They are naive in their youth and now their faith dwindles. I feel it, you feel it. Even the desert feels it! This place reeks of treachery."
She growled and looked off into the direction her children had gone to play. She did not like to let them wander but they had been warned of those heretics and they had orders to report them to herself or the king. No, they were smart, they knew what to do. She need not worry.
"I share your worries also Ny. You must trust in your own judgement. Here is what I have done. I raised Jua and Wakia the way I was raised. I told them the stories of our past, of Finar-si. I have given them history, told them of the plagues. They know about the hardships we have to endure. They also know they are Firekin and what it means to be one. I have made them a proudly pair. I have also warned them of the treachery that goes on. Keeping them in the dark may only make matters worse, leave them open to being targetted by the rebels. But now they have been warned they are ready and if they find one amongst us who has these thoughts, they know what to do."
She had no idea that Ny intended to join the rebels and that was probably for the best. "Teach them your own beliefs, as I have thought them mine. Yes we are traditionalists, but we all differ slightly in how we view our Goddess. No one can tell you how to parent correctly, not even I. In fact you are probably better at giving advice on motherhood than I."
She smiled, content with that.
"Besides, once this idiocy is over the confusion will be gone and things can return to how they should be."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 2:27 pm
If only they could be as they should be. It never would be and Ny had accepted this.
"You give good advice Ripuka, you always have. I will teach them my beliefs and they can grow as they must into strong lions." Though what she would teach them wouldn't be what Ripuka would think she would teach.
After the words she had just heard she was somewhat confused. She wouldn't take sides in the fight, she refused to fight. She would just try and protect her children. She would then go with Kidondo once the fighting was over with.
"I am glad you are here Ripuka, I am grateful for it and love you as a mother. Please remember that, no matter what happens." She tried to keep her voice normal though she couldn't ever remember telling Ripuka this before and it could seem a little odd that she would now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 12:30 am
Ripuka smiled, glad to be useful in atleast one part of her life. Yes, hr mind was full of information. She was like a walking history book, filled with so many stories that they practically fell from her mouth every time it opened. "Your children will grow wonderfully Ny, don't worry about that."
Then, at Ny's words, Ripuka turned her head, mildly surprised. Yes, she had a tenderness in her heart, and those such as Ny could easily wriggle under her wing to be nurtered.
"Ny..." She trailed off, then nodded slowly, smiling again. "I have always looked to you as a daughter. Even as a cub you impressed me with your spirit. You've grown a lot since then in mind and body. You have matured into a fine Firekin Lioness. If your cubs turn out as you have then our Pride has nothing to fear."
If only she knew.
Or maybe, deep down she did. Maybe she could see the sadness in Ny's eyes but chose to ignore it.
"Ny, when Kidondo returns, as I'm sure he will. Be sure to keep yourself and the cubs safe. I will be joining the battle if one arises but you, you are the future. You have to be kept safe."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 4:58 am
"You could be killed!" Ny never wanted to join in the fighting, her childrens lives were more important but Ripuka? No, she was too old! If she got hit somewhere bad she would die.
"I mean no offence, none at all but Ripuka you are one of the oldest pride members, do you not think that you may be killed? Are you really up to it?" The white lioness might end up breaking the older lionesses heart in some way but a broken heart was better then her being dead! Oh now Ny was worried, she also knew for certain that there wasn't a chance that she would fight Ripuka, not claw to claw.
"Oh Ripuka I don't wish to see you hurt. You mean as much to me as my children do. You are like family you know that surely?" Ny was desperate to stop her from fighting, even if her efforts were in vain, she wished to at least show that she cared so when the time came Ripuka would know it was hurting Ny to go with Kidondo.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 8:33 am
Ripuka smiled sadly. It was nice to hear the concern in Ny's voice, nice to know that she would be missed if she did meet an untimely death. "Nyeupe'Moto..." She released a long, weary sigh. "Thank you. Your concern means so much to me." And that was the honest truth. "Believe me, I thought about this long and hard but there was no argument betwen heart and mind, both agree on my decision. There was no other choice I could make."
She paused, turned her head to gaze around this land. "I love this land, love it so much that I would willingly die for it and it's traditions. I could not live with myself if I stood back and did nothing. No, my children are growing into fine young Firekin and I do not fear death."
She blinked her eyes wearily. "I am old, Ny. I may not feel it right now, but I am and I have seen much in my time on this world. We only get one chance at life, child, one chance. So we must live it as we choose, have no regrets. I do not fear the rebels. In fact, if I must die defending Finar-si's honour, then I have died the best death a Firekin could be granted."
She paused. "But don't worry, I'm not so fragile that I'll fall easily. I'll give those heretic rebels something to shout about. I'll show them what being a true Firekin means." She stood, arching her neck proudly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:31 am
Ny just lowered her head, she knew there was no way to change the older lionesses mind though she wished to. She wished that the old lioness would change her views so that the sadness that would come upon the heirs return would not happen. She wished her family were together and happy always. Oh how she wished so much but none of it would be much use remembering, as the future held many things that were as of yet unknown.
"I will miss you terribly." She let it slip. "Would... I would miss you terribly." Maybe Ripuka wouldn't notice the mistake? She couldn't worry about that, she just had to keep the conversation in tact and then maybe the mistake would be brushed aside.
"Everything seems so strange. I have not seen Ra in so long and I miss my mate. I do not know which side he would choose if there was to ever be a fight in the pride and oh I just think I am having some sort of heartache which is leading into paranoia. I don't know what I would do without you here. Thank you." She smiled, wondering whether her rambles would cover anything or not. She hoped that it seemed to be speculating in some way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 8:51 am
Ripuka cackled quietly, misunderstanding Ny's mistake as a lack of faith in her strength. "You will see me again, don't worry about that. I'm stronger than I look and I've got my faith behind me. That will drive me to victory." She smiled fondly. "Besides, I have my cubs to protect and those I hold dearly." She meant Ny. "To die protecting the ones I love, that is the most honourable way to go, don't you think? Far more noble than dieing of old age in a den that saw my own parents die from the plague."
She purred. "If the worst does happen, Ny, then I will be at peace knowing that I defended the true spirit of the Firekin."
Ny stood and moved to brush her shoulder against Ny's settling herself closer to the younger lioness. "Do not fear Ny. Ra will choose correctly. It can be hard, not seeing one's mate for so long a time. I know I miss mine awfully, but he will return one day and I look forward to seeing him again. Ra will come to, he will have to." She smiled at Ny's words of thanks.
"It's no problem."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:33 am
Ny nodded and attempted to make it seem as if she cheered up a little. Oh how depressing this was and it could be the last meeting she would have with the older lioness, then again she risked that everytime she spoke to her now.
"I suppose so, I just worry. I can't help it."
Life was changing and whether it was for the best or not she wasn't sure. She wished so much to be with her mate again, curled up next to Ra's large warm body. She never had to worry about anything when she was there. She hadn't seen him in so long.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:47 pm
Ripuka stood, stretched her aging limbs and turned towards the white lioness. Yes, she bore but a scratch of red on her, but she was a firekin and she always would be. Ripuka closed her eyes, breathed deeply and stepped towards the younger female.
"Worrying keeps us and others safe but it cannot make us happy." Her voice was weary but her good eye was bright. "Finar-si will protect you as she will protect me. Love her and you will be loved in return, child." She leaned forwards, pressed her forehead to Ny's.
"You will always be in my heart, always." And drawing back, Ripuka put on a more relaxed, casual expression, as if the solemn words they had spoken had not even occurred. Ripuka had long ago decided that if she were to die she would die at Finar-si's side. Her children were growing strong and this was as good an opportunity to show them the true power of faith.
She loved Ny as a daughter and wished happiness for her, though she had no idea what lurked in the white female's mind to make her worry so.
"Now, I must go find the little ones. They've been gone far too long. Keep smiling Ny. The desert needs it." And she turned and headed off across the dunes, calling in that low tone, for her children to return to her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:52 am
Ny just listened and nodded her head, "Thank You Ripuka."
It hurt to know that this could be the last time she saw the older lioness but right now she wished to go and find her children and head towards the borders, maybe if she patrolled a little she would see the prince return. Oh she hated wars, but maybe this would end the fighting in the pride.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
