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 Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 7:51 pm
Beside Tiah lay new life, tiny new lives that struggled to find warmth beside her dying body and she couldn’t do a thing for them. They were only hours old and she had lost so much blood. It was so ironic knowing that her mother died this same way… she was only thankful that all of her cubs had survived… so far.
If no one found her soon they would all be forced to settle with the same fate she was. Her eyes narrowed as she softly panted, covering the pain she felt as she eyed down at her new cubs. Tears would swell within her eyes… if only she could produce them; she was too tired to even cry for them. To cry for her children.
When all of her babies had nestled themselves close enough for her to curl around she rested her head down and mewed faintly. Ado had left to find food for her soon after the cubs came… but she didn’t have the heart to tell him she was in such pain then, he seemed too pleased with himself and litter. She did not want to worry him, but now. Now she knew.
Time was very short.
Luckily Tahka had made it a priority to see his mother today. He knew that she was expecting cubs anyway... with Ado and all and thought he would pop in for a chat about a recent conversation he and Sara had the day before. Mother needed to know everything. So there he was with his son Kadaj at toe, making his way to his mother’s den; he and Sara were suppose to meet up here at sundown…
He was going to wait for her to come… when all of a sudden the fresh scent of blood hit him hard, taking him back a step.
“Daddy?”
The cub questioned at his father’s sudden step back, unaware of what was going on.
At first he felt like shrugging it off but soon found that the scent was very familiar, very… hunting. Something wasn’t right. He gazed down at his son for a moment and frowned, thinking of what to do.
“You sit here for a second boy; I need to check something out. Don’t move from this spot, you hear?”
“Yes daddy.”
After he made sure Kadaj was settled Tahka moved onward, closing in on his mother’s den… where he saw it.
Blood. Lots of blood… laced all around her and her newly born cubs; his brothers and sisters. He didn’t know what to say or… what to do; this was… a shock. Just the other day he bad mouthed her to Mjrn… and here she was… in so much blood. What on earth?
“..Mother.”
Tahka’s jaws parted as he gazed at her with wide eyes.
“You… are bleeding.”
“Tahka…”
Tiah mewed as she gazed upon her son and beckoned him closer. She lifted her head and smiled weakly.
“I don’t understand this. What, what happened? What is all of this? This... blood, mother, stop it. You need to stand and get away from this; you need to get your cubs out of his mess. Mother…”
“Tahka don’t be a fool. I can not do that now.”
She spoke out weakly.
“I won’t last the night. Please.”
It was true. The sun was settling and the darkness would come, along with it masses of scavengers. What would he do- he felt like he was frozen in place, like this wasn’t happening.
She couldn’t die, she had to be alright. He may not have been the pick of the litter or a good-cub that mother loved growing up… but he loved her all the same. ********, it was his mother!
Sitting still Kadaj frowned and looked around; his pale eyes wide with interest. He had no idea what was going on.
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:05 pm
Sara, too, had known of the pending birth. Because of such, she'd taken to popping in fairly often this past moon to check upon her mother and see if the litter had been born yet. Still, Tiah wouldn't be expecting her as she'd never come with any sort of regularity to the day or hour. The spot of red beside the den, however, wasn't something Sarafina was expecting, or happy to see.
It wasn't that she minded her brother being near Tiah, but she also remembered what he'd been like for the past good while. There was a fear in her heart that Tahka still might go off the deep end in concerns to the older female, and leaving him alone with her wasn't something Sarafina intended to do. As she passed the alert she'd gotten, she nodded to him but did not bid him follow her. Instead, she left Kadaj outside for now as the smell of blood invaded her nostrils.
NO...
"TAHKA---" Sarafina's voice choked upon herself when she saw the source of the blood. Oh, she'd expected it'd be from Tiah.. but she hadn't expected the wriggling mass clutched to her still-swollen stomach. "Mother..."
She frowned, her fur falling back from where it'd bristled a moment earlier. Those hard green eyes narrowed and she strode into the cave, giving Tahka a hard look over. No.. he hadn't a spot of blood on him.. and it was more than apparant where it'd come from in the first place. Rather than hit him or shove him away she rubbed her side against him as she passed, daring to cross into the dark rivers in order to get behind their mother and take a look at the worst of the damage.
"Mother," She repeated, voice more gentle than any had likely heard it before. Her mouth opened to continue, but the female said nothing. With a snap she shut it again and took a long, deep breath. When she spoke again, it was with a certain cold finality, "How many?" She tried to count but they were still so covered in blood, and in such a mass that she'd have had to take them from their suckle in order to distinguish one from the other.
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:18 pm
“Five.”
The mother mewed as she smiled at her daughter. She didn’t understand why they had both showed up around the same time on the same day… but she was very thankful. They would be the last to see her alive.
“Sara, my love. Sit...”
At her request Tahka motioned for his sister to sit with him, gazing down at Tiah with wide eyes. This was shocking to him. So… strange.
“Listen to me, the both of you. You will look after my five, teach them like I taught you, you understand me? You do not let them forget who they are and where they come from and the blood that flows within him, make sure they never forget…”
“Don’t talk like that…”
Tahka couldn’t stand it. Such words made his insides turn.
“Tahka, don’t you dare cry for me. Don't cross that path with me now.”
Tiah spat out. It wasn’t like she was READY to die, so this was hard for her too. She couldn’t stand seeing them now, letting them see her like this.
“Stay with me until...”
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:23 pm
Sarafina shook her head at her brother's offer. Tiah needed their warmth more. Instead of going to him, she wedged herself between the cold wall and her mother's body, throwing an arm over her mother's shoulder and drawing the female back against her chest. "Call Kadaj in here." She hissed at her brother, "There are scavengers about."
"Shhhh," She said to her mother, angling her neck so that she could gently groom Tiah's neck. This wasn't easy for her, but she wouldn't cry--she had never been the type to do such things, after all, no matter how much something hurt. "Do not worry for the children. They will know their place and their honor."
It wasn't much of a condolence but it was the best that she could give at this point. In fact, it seemed the best idea at this point. "Tahka, is Mjirn still nursing?" They would need to find a surrogate, the cubs couldn't do without milk.
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 12:39 pm
At her request Tahka stepped out and went to get his son.
“Sara. You’ll look after things, won’t you?”
Tiah panted softly as she rested herself against her daughter, purring the best she could. She trusted her to take care of things and keep them in order when she was gone, Sara and Sara alone.
“Don’t be too hard on him now... He will learn.”
A soft laugh passed her chest as she spoke about Tahka, smiling slightly.
“Tell me something Sara. Tell me everything you need to now.”
Stumbling back in Tahka and Kadaj sat down. At first the young cub didn’t know what he was looking at, but soon he found himself pushing back against his daddy, wanting to leave.
Tahka rested a paw upon his head and turned him so that he wasn’t looking directly at the blood anymore. Things were silent.
“Yes, she still is. She can feed them.”
She wouldn’t be able to say no now, anyway.
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 1:00 pm
Mijrn wouldn't have been able to say no, even if she'd been the kind of girl inclined to. Sara wouldn't have let her. The was settled, though, with Tahka's words. Sarafina looked up at him and Kadaj when they came in, giving Tahka a wordless glance of thanks with those glass green eyes. "Shhhh mother." She whispered softly and licked her neck, "Keep your strength."
There were many things to say, however. "I'll look after them, and raise them as if they were my own." They were her siblings, but considering the parentage it might have been expected that the elder litter would have hated this younger one, looked on upon with so much more love than they had been. Sarafina didn't mind, though, children weren't to be blamed for their parents sins or mistakes or.. well, it was in the past. "We're leaving the pridelands, mother. As soon as we can, we're taking our family--but we will not go far.
"This place has been unkind to us, mother. It is not your parenting that made Matishou into the idiot he is, or that lead Tahka to his emotional troubles. It wasn't Grandfather's fault that he gave into the plague, or that he was so weak of heart to give into it... no, we have listened and learned your lessons well, and we know now that it is this place. This culture that causes weakness of mind and moral and heart... but we will not spill the blood of their royal family as that barbarian Mufasa would have done, and so we go, now. You may rest and know that Taka's name, and yours, will forever live on in a new pride all our own."
It was the most she could say to comfort her mother now, though she wasn't certain how much of a comfort it would be. "Don't worry about anything."
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 2:15 pm
“My perfect daughter...”
Tiah mumbled as she listened to her speak. She was very pleased with that she was hearing and it would be a good place for her to stop. Tiah wanted to die knowing her cubs knew what they were doing and had idea of how to go about doing it. None of them were weak, no. Troubled, maybe but no weak.
They all made her proud.
“Tell the other’s that I’m sorry.”
She added as she softly rested her head against the cold stone.
“Tell them that they better listen to you too...”
As Tiah rested herself Tahka and Kadaj just looked on blankly, Tahka more-so. He felt like he had really ******** up. He wanted to yell at her or cry but he couldn’t even get close to her. It was killing in, really.
“Daddy... what… what’s wrong with-“
“Shhh… don’t, just come here.”
Tahka pressed Kadaj closer to his side and gazed at Sara weakly.
“Someone else is here… I can smell it.”
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 2:44 pm
"My den's not far, and everyone was gathering..." By the time she'd reached them, Tufah had picked up the scent of blood and the last few words. She could easily guess that her mother was dying from looking at her littermates, her new siblings and especially at Tiah. Her idol. Tufah had hero-worshiped their mother practically since the second she was born. To see her like this....
The rusty lioness clenched her teeth together as if she was the one in pain and for the first time, felt such intense sorrow-pain-frustration she was trying not to cry. Oh she'd cried softly and secretly over old battle wounds before but she'd always tried to remain strong in front of everyone. But she felt like utter s**t and what was image when your mother looked like she was dying?
"Mother." She sighed out, face contorted almost as if she was snarling, in despair.
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 2:54 pm
Sarafina looked up when their sister arrived. That was for the better.. Scavengers had likely picked up the scent by now, and would well be on their way. Tahka and she could handle a few, but with the cubs about... well it could be a dangerous situation. She hoped that Adonai would come soon, for they would have to move the cubs as soon as Tiah was gone. Housing them in Mjirn and Tahka's den would likely be the best idea.
"Say your goodbys, Tufah," Sarafina suggested. She loved her sister dearly, no matter that it didn't always show, and didn't condemn her for the interruption. "Well give word to Mat and Haiba, mother." The last part was to the female resting against her and once more Sarafina bent to continue the lazy grooming of her mother's side. She seemed to be getting colder.
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 3:03 pm
Tiah didn’t say anything after Sara started nuzzling her again. In fact, the last thing she did was smile at Tufah as she entered. After that Tiah’s body went cold and still, as silent as the night’s passing wind.
She was gone.
Suddenly everything sank in and with a quick jump up Tahka spat out with a snarl.
“Come on, everyone grab a cub and head out side. We have to close off this den before some other repulsive creature tries to take her.”
He wasn’t joking around or acting smartass, no. Tahka was trying to take control of himself, feelings and situation as he stood up and gazed at his mother’s still frame. He would miss her but they had to do this quickly if any of the cubs were to live.
“Tufah, come here and take one of them. We have five cubs and four bodies, lets make haste.”
As he spoke he moved himself closer to Sara and Tiah and frowned, eyeing up at Sara with eyes of confusion. Things wouldn’t ever be the same.
“We can not wait for Ado, no telling when he will get back. We must save them first, Sara...”
At his words he moved down and nuzzles Tiah’s cheek before pulling back. He had to some stones to cover the entrance of Tiah’s den; they needed to conceal her dead body. He wouldn’t have anyone using her bones and eating her flesh. No one.
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 3:19 pm
"One moment, brother." Tufah moved forward as Tahka moved away and likewise nuzzled her mothers cheek and gave it a lick. Of course she knew she was gone, lack of breath and that vital spark obviously gone - but she still needed to say good bye. In her head, she said a lot more than she said outloud in the few second she spent with her cheek against Tiah's, her fur against her mother's trapping for a second the warmth that was fast fading from the dead lioness.
"Love you - haven't told you that since I was a cub, not in words."
How she felt that Tiah was worthy of a Queen's place in the stars and felt sure that her spirit would be going there, along with Taka and the royals of the past. Just how much she had loved and admired her mother. How even every pawstep she took she'd done for Tiah, to bring honor to her and the family and how she would never forget what Tiah taught them. That she'd look after her siblings with the others. And other small things too fleeting and hard to communicate with words...like how much she treasured memories of warm milk and a large rough tongue cleaning her fur, later her first hunting lesson, the last time Tiah gave her advice, and a hundred other moments.
It only took a second. Then the broken hearted daughter picked up other of the cubs with unacustomed tenderness and made to follow her brothers orders. Without question for once. Tufah was too sad even to try to think for herself for now.
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 3:24 pm
"We're not closing up the den, Tahka," Sara replied calmly. She waited while her sister made her goodbys, then slowly allowed Tiah's head to rest upon the stone of the den as Sara stood up. Carefully the dark lioness stepped over her mother's body and over the cubs to free herself from the corpse and turned her gaze once more upon her mother. After a moment she sighed and explained herself to her emotionally bent brother. "It is the circle of life, and we must honor it as she would have wished us to. They deserve to eat and live as much as we, and do we not eat the antelope who have children and mates that love them?" Sara shook her head then dipped her head to pick up a cub. "Come. We have work to do."
Cub in mouth, then, she followed her sister and stopped in the cave entrance to wait for him.
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 6:02 pm
Tahka wanted to take a hit at Sara as she spoke. He hated her right then. No one needed to take his mother’s body. No one, ******** everyone else, ******** the circle of life. It had not been kind to him, why should he be kind back?
Snarling under his deep sigh the red eyed male slowly turned and lifted up one of his siblings, motioning for Kadaj to do the same. Though it took the little boy a while to help he did in fact do as he was told, and with care too. After four of the cubs were outside Tahka went back in and retrieved the last one, moving it outside too.
But he didn’t leave just yet. Tahka wanted his mother’s grave to be covered. He was going to back down.
Turning he gazed at Sara and frowned before moving away. He started to push gravel and stone in front of the den, still giving Sara a rough look.
He wasn’t joking; he was going to do it no matter what she said for once. She disserved that much. ******** the circle of life.
This was the only way he could show her he cared. He was such a bad son to her.
"Im going to do this, Sara, don’t you dare cross me right now. I will not allow anyone to do that to her, I will not allow Ado to come back to her like this. It’s what is right, what I feel is right. For once let me be.”
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 6:19 pm
"But shouldn't he get to say goodbye? And isn't it about what mother would have wanted...?" Tufah suggested, vaguely and softly, since she'd put down her sibling for a second to change her grip. Barely offering her opinion. Then she was nosing at her burden licking off some blood and making sure it was okay.
She really had had the stuffing knocked out of her.
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Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 11:03 am
"It should be about what mother wants, Tahka. Besides, you're wasting valuable time doing that. She isn't in there anymore, just her shell." Sarafina rolled her eyes. She should have known better than to have expected or even hoped that her brothers recent trip to idiocy would have ended so quickly. Still, she made no move to stop him--there were cubs to think about.
"Come, Tufah, lets get these little ones to safety. Then we can find Adonai before he returns to the den. It'll be best if he doesn't return here." Though she didn't point it out, if the creatures were desperate enough they could easily dig into the cave themselves. Besides that, there was no stopping the worms and bugs from performing their cleaning rituals.
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