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 Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:28 am
Once she had made sure her newborn half siblings were fine, Tufah had fled the scene of her mother's death. She'd never run from anything before but having her idol die as she said her goodbyes had been too much. Tiah had been gone for days now but still the rusty female hung around the back of Priderock depressed. She was getting better but the sun still seemed darker and she didn't feel like hunting or helping watch over roving cubs. Just laying in the shadows, where it was comfy, and lazing her days away.
With most of her siblings going to form the Outlands too, she was torn. She'd invested too much time cultivating her 'nice' image to leave now. And the Pridelands were in her blood, in Tiah's blood through Taka's himself. She loved her home. Tufah never wished to leave...but she'd lost her mother, maybe she should go so that she might be with her siblings....
She signed and sat up. Musing on these things weren't helping.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:38 am
Cream-coloured toes tapped at the ground as the lion they belonged to was wandering away from his cave. In the days that had been passing, it seemed that the family was growing apart themselves. Everyone was growing up, making friends, being busy with their duties. They didn't have as much time for one another anymore, one thing that Simi was jealous of in other families. At least they didn't have as many things going on, they could still easily spend all their time with one another.
Sometimes, being 'royal' was good. Othertimes, it made Simi almost feel a bit bitter. A double-edged sword.
His red-brown eyes found the tip of a tail before seeing the body it was attached to. He held his breath for just a split moment. Seeing her was comforting, as it had been a while since they had crossed paths. But also, she did not seem happy, the girl that he remembered.
"Tufah, is that you?" he questioned, first confirming that indeed was her. You never knew, once you stepped into the shadows, everything seemed a bit...darker.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 10:09 am
Suddenly alert as someone approached and said her name, her head was lifted up abruptly. Ruby eyes narrowed for a moment. Then she relaxed with a slump of her shoulders and gave a short bow of her head - she couldn't even be bothered to resent showing respect to one of the princes. She did managed to muster a friendly smile for the sake of appearences but knew she'd still seem sad. Pathetic really. Not like her sorrowing could bring Tiah's soul back down from the stars.
"Hello Simi. It's been a while." One forepaw absently rose to rest on the garnet necklace she wore. A trinket from their last real meeting. She'd seen him around of course but she'd been so preoccupied of late. Hated 'royal' or not, Tufah noted in a vague way he'd grown up to be quite tasty.
"Doing well?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 11:23 am
Simi's ears perked forward when he heard that familiar voice. So indeed, it was her afterall. Well, that was comforting at least, or else he would have horribly embarassed himself yet again.
With a bit of renewed confidence, he took a couple steps closer before setting himself down. He didn't want to intrude on her, just in case she really did want to be by herself. Who was he to be so pushy?
"Yeah, it has been a while," he admitted, feeling a bit of the weight on the back of his neck seem to grow heavier. His mane was starting to grow in, after all.
The question she asked twisted his stomache, though. Should he really tell her how he felt, or just brush it all over, so it seemed like everyone was happy? Sure, most of his family was happy, but that didn't mean Simi was with their growing apart-ness.
Oh, screw it. "Mostly, yes. Just....everyone seems to be growing up, moving along without looking back." He swished his tail, resisting the urge to look away with a touch of sadness. No, he shouldn't really show his emotions like that, so instead he kept his eyes on Tufah, trying to display a warm smile towards her.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:02 pm
" I know what you mean." She said silkily and considered it. Everyone was growing up and getting on with their lives at that. Noyana and Mat, Mjrn and Tahka, both sets had had cubs. Sara was going to be a queen as she should be and had her male too. The youngsters were doing okay. Only Tiah, who was dead, and herself seemed still.Except mother wasn't, her soul was with the stars and the great lions from the past. And she didn't have to stay still either. It was another way of looking at it and without realising it, Tufah brightened slightly. It was refreshing to think in a different way after mulling over the same thoughts for days.
"My siblings are like that....our family has changed so much now. But I guess that's the circle of life, everything's always moving forwards." The suggestion was given with a slightly tilted head, an inviting incline.
Come then, stay and talk. Since you have interesting things to say.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:16 pm
While Simi might not have taken the invitation so strongly, he did feel that Tufah perhaps understood, and she herself was going through many of the same changes. There was comfort in that, and this time, he would let himself be drawn to that comfort.
"Oh? I have no seen Tahka in some time," he admitted, though he soon switched his attention to his own family, just in case the subject of her brother was something that made her uncomfortable.
"Everyone is growing up, and we all seem to busy for one another. Well, some of my family, that is. The heirs, Safuma I have barely seen lately, the others are only there when it is time to rest." He flicked his tail, letting his gaze drift off to the lands below, where lions were mingling, spending time together before they would return to their own duties.
"I envy them, though. For never having to deal with the burdens of a split family. Now that everyone knows who the heirs are, it seems the rest of us are almost forgotten. If not forgotten, they still offer us their respect, but is it true? I doubt it..."
Suddenly, his ears perked up again, before swiveling to rest flatly on his skull. "Oh, no! I've said too much, I apologize, Tufah." He flushed a deep scarlet colour, hoping that he had not said too much to the fact that he would embarass his family. He had never verbally said what was bothering him, and so once the gate opened, the water followed.
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Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:37 am
"Don't worry. Friends are supposed to be there to talk to after all... and I won't tell a soul." She said silkily and extended one dark claw. Tufah drew it across her chest twice, diagonally. "Cross my heart."
Her tail tip twitched and she turned to gaze out at the lions and rocks and the grasslands about them. It was a comfortable silence on her part. She turned over what he'd said in her mind and for the first time in days tried to work out how to use something to her advantage. Urgh, she felt rusty and he wasn't the little boy cub she'd met anymore. Hmm.
"You're not forgotton. If you want to see someone whose forgotton..." She trailed off, letting it hang in the air. Let him take that however he wanted. Sympathy for himself, alluding to herself - Tufah waited to see what he'd say.
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Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:04 am
Simi's expression lightened, almost to the point of curiosity. His ears slowly swiveled their way around to face Tufah, his red-brown eyes trying to read into more what she had just said.
Well, at least he wasn't too stupid. There was the fact that he had certainly not been able to see Tahka in a while, not even in passing. Maybe something happened to him? Or maybe the rest of her family? No where in his mind, though, did he think that Tufah might of felt forgotten. There was no room in his mind to think that way!
"Well, I haven't seen Tahka for a while. Is...is it something with your family?" he asked carefully, hoping that he wasn't nosing into somewhere that he didn't belong. He did feel a certain pull towards her, though, and took one step forward, his head lowered to peek up at her between the bangs of his growing mane.
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Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:22 am
Yes! So that would be the way to go. Simi always seemed to be one of those Pridelanders with a kindly heart and he was obviously curious. In fact he'd been curious about the 'treasures' in the cave so long ago too. Hmm. Tufah dropped her head and only raised her red eyes to meet his. Sorrowful but also what she'd been told was an alluring pose by one of her old rogue boys who'd liked to try to chase her tail. Of course usually it was a more 'come hither' expression along with it...
"My siblings are growing up like yours are, except a group of them are also leaving the lands now that." She paused. "Now that our mother's dead. I miss her so much! And I'll miss my brothers and sister but I love the Pridelands and I can't imagine ever leaving our home. I might be all alone in a few days."
Come on boy, you're supposedly a prince. Comfort the grieving maiden. With her siblings leaving she could use someone like Simi. Friends in high places.
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:10 am
Simi's heart sunk when he heard what Tufah had to say about her own situation. Well, he really shouldn't of already ranted himself, becaue obviously her world was much more shattered than his was. Sure, maye his family was drifting apart, but Tufah's was gone.
He took another slow, shy step towards her, still looking at her with a bit of sorrow. Not quite pity, but he did feel bad for her. Aweful, really.
"I'm so sorry, Tufah," he breathed, taking one more step closer. He felt horribly self-conscience all of a sudden, and really didn't know what to do, or say. He hadn't been put through that, and hopefully he woudn't for a long time.
Umm, well. What should he say? "Well, if it means anything, I'll be here for you?" Gods, that sounded awful! He mentally kicked himself, schooling his face to not show his sudden backtrack of that comment.
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:50 am
She faltered for a moment. This was the most like her self she had been for a time, scheming and thinking and not-laying-around-depressed. Tufah had truely been hurt and mourning...and Simi in his bone headed kindly way was offering his condolences and paying her some attention. For a moment she as bewildered because this feeling of guilt (or recieving comfort from someone who wasn't Tiah? compassion? indigestion?) was something new to her.
Urgh, thank the stars that passed quickly!
"Thankyou Simi. Sorry to have bothered you - know how awkward it can be - but it means a lot to know I have a friend here still." A small smile.
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 1:13 pm
Simi had settled himself down onto his hind legs into a comfortable sitting position, now that his body didn't feel so tense. Her tone of acceptance seemed to calm him. He...didn't really notice just how he was feeling, though. Maybe he would later on, when he was by himself. Or maybe much later on, weeks, months. Men were never too smart, actually!
"You're welcome, Tufah," he said with a bright smile, happy that he could help her, even if it was only a little bit. A litter was better than nothing! "I'll be here for you if you ever need to talk, feel free to come up to the caves, I'm usually around there more now, than roaming around like when I was a cub."
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 1:47 pm
"Likewise, if you ever need anyone, I'm either here or in the general den caves."
Tufah let her smile widen in response to his and relaxed. Sitting pretty. Well, that was a start she supposed and at least it was some sort of plan. Get Simi on her side. She didn't have any greater ambitions for the time being. But it wouldn't be long before she dreamed a dream so pretty that she didn't feel so depressed (it would sooothe her inner kitty~...gonna stop that now XD)
After all, when you're a 'lost' princess of a forgotton royal family, a prince at your side is the next best thing to having your own offical title, no?
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:11 pm
"Thank you Tufah, I'll be sure to remember that." He mildly wondered if she would be staying in the same cave as her family lived in, but he really wouldn't ask that. That seemed a bit too personal, and maybe he would be able to find out more about it at a later date.
He shifted a little bit, and his eyes soon caught on the gem around her neck. It...it was...! The gem he had found, she had still kept, even after all this time! He felt like if he said anything, he'd studder a bit, and so he moved his attention back to the wandering lions down below.
His mind still jumbled, he stumbled out another awkward comment to her. "So...so are you feeling a bit better?"
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:28 pm
An almost comfy silence, as they both fell silent for a minute - but she noted how he shifted as she watched the lions below again and she was sure his gaze asn't pointed the same way her was. And then he spoke and it was too good!
She almost grinned wickedly. It was so cliché but her sense of humor kicked in. Cue the head tilted his way, slightly lidded eyes and the hint of a purr in her voice. Not too much, nice and subtle, but grateful. Obviously so.
"I am now. Surprised how relieved I am to know you're around again....it's nice."
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