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 Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 2:14 pm
 The den was within sight. Ihlo was tired, her mouth and neck a little sore from carrying her sister from where they'd found her. If it hadn't been for Njozi occasionally taking over, she would have stopped a while ago. It was hard, but she said her goodbyes to her mate, only wishing it were easier to more affectionately depart. Nuri was more important now though. And Njozi understood that. And made Ihlo love him more for that.
Before going inside, Ihlo settled beneath a tree, nestled within its mighty roots. She put Nuri in her paws and had a proper chance to look her over now.
"I wonder if you even know the worry you put us through," she whisper-sighed and then nuzzled her little sister.
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Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 2:24 pm
Nuri had been worn out from running with Banjoko, and while he was away, from hunting down some supper. It'd been a rough few days, her last with her knight with the shiny blue fur, but she'd loved it. She was young enough still that it was still natural to doze while a friendly set of jaws carried you home... The straight-as-the-crow-flies route back had been quicker too, than their wandering adventuring trail. But as she woke up Nurisha couldn't justify it really.
"Ihlo...?" Surprised, she blinked sleep away and looked up at her dear sister with wide eyes. How had she got here? Had she dreamed the whole thing? Was this the dream?
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Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 2:30 pm
"So you've rejoined the land of the living?" she rumbled at Nuri, licking the top of her sister's head. "You've had us all a bit worried y'know. We didn't know where you'd gotten to. You're safe and sound at home now."
Ihlo sort of curled her front legs and paws around Nuri, as if forming a little barrier or boundry within which to keep her safe.
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Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 2:35 pm
"Oh no, no!" Nuri did nuzzle Ihlo but she shifted, agitated, within her embracing paws. To be honest she thought that they wouldn't notice here for a few more weeks - since she'd often vanished to visit a friend the other end of the lands for days or spent half her time by her tree. So the double guilt of making her family worry and the non-presence of Banjoko hit her hard.
"Banjoko let you take me?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 2:55 pm
"What? Who's Banjoko? Aren't you happy to be home? Whats wrong?" she bombarded her sister with questions, not really giving her the time to answer them one by one.
Ihlo used her paws to stop Nuri wriggling so much, an instinctive move to stop her getting away again.
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Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 2:58 pm
"He's my rescuer and my friend and of course I love home but he'll wonder where I am and..." She replied just as quickly but trailed off with a sob. Nurisha lay down again and rested her head on Ihlo's 'forearm'.
"I'm sorry."
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Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 3:05 pm
"We didn't see anyone else when we found you," she began softly, obviously totally oblivious to her sister's adventures.
She nuzzled her sister again and tried to soothe her with a purr-rumble.
"Now now, don't get upset. I'm sure that if he's any kind of friend, he'll miss you and come back to see you again. Nothing is ever over forever," she used a paw to gently stroke Nuri's head.
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Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 3:09 pm
"He was probaby out helping someone. He's very brave." She managed after a few minutes, regaining her composure. Nuri wasn't one to cry often but the sudden change in circumstances had shocked her. Still...Banjoko could managed himself well and Ihlo was probably right and it was nice to see her big sister.
"...did everyone worry over me? I didn't think I'd worry you."
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 9:20 am
"Well, it was mostly me. Call it a big sister's intuition. I have to keep you fluffballs in line, now don't I?" she tried to lighten the situation, smiling and playfully nipping at her sister's little ears.
Everything Nuri had said was now beginning to sink in, and it seemed like ehr smirk grew. So, Nuri had met a little boyfriend on her adventures? Awww, puppy-love.
"So tell me more about this mysterious Banjoko..."
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 1:28 pm
"Real hero. He helps whoever he can. Saved me the first time I met him and looked after me while we wandered."
He was her best friend and she sighed, hoping he'd find her. Besides her true love of course he was the most important lion in her life. In the back of her mind, the black lion stirred at her quick thought of him and then slept again since Nuri was dealing with the sudden change fine. Ashiki at least was very grateful to Ihlo for bringing her home.
"How have you been?" She nudged her affectionately.
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 1:36 pm
"He saved you? From what? Are you alright?" she went back to 'mothering' mode and seemed to begin a visual inspection of her young sister, trying to pick out any injuries, any signs of bruising or swelling. Everything under the sun. Had lions been capable of handling stethoscopes, it was likely Ihlo would go so far as to use one.
"And you'd better enjoy me whilst you can...I'll be going soon..." she sounded a little sad.
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 1:41 pm
"Hey! I asked how you were." Nurisha giggled, though her smile faded a little again at Ihlo's annoucement. She just got home...she'd wanted to hang out with her dear Ihlo.
"Not got to chase down Umbia too do you?" She joked, knowing their black-red sister had had a touch of wanderlust before.
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 1:50 pm
"Oh no no, at least I hope not. One epic search today is quite enough thank you," she chortled.
The fatigue from the long journey out to the pridal borders to recover Nuri was beginning to catch up on Ihlo, but her unfailing determination to get her sister back was honourable. And she even kept some of that angelic glow that was an almost a defining feature for her.
"No...I'll be having a family of my own one day. I'll still be here, but I don't think you'd want me and my mate crowding the den and making lovey-dovey faces at eachother all the time."
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 1:57 pm
She beamed at her and made an odd excited sound. Nurisha was a born romantic and dreamed of one day having a love and a den and cubs and everything. She couldn't be more pleased for her.
"Well no that'd be awkward but I can come see you right? You're not going far? You're so lucky!"
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Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 2:02 pm
"Of course you can come see me, I'll still be here as always. And I'll probably be around here MORE often to make sure you're all behaving like a perfect young ladies," she teased.
"And actually, if you'd been awake when we found you, you could have met my mate...my knight in shining armour," she smiled at her sister. "You'll be lucky too one day, everyone has a soul mate."
Ihlo was optimistic in life. If she had heard any of the horror stories of being abandoned with cubs or facing rogueish males, she would have dismissed them for lies.
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