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 Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:05 pm
Bah, stupid mutts. It seemed like he hadn't been sociable enough, and everyone that knew him, forgot about him, or never bothered to care about him, either. What the hell?
It didn't surprise him too much, not really. It was more of an annoyance to get jumped down every time he tried tow ander around, looking busy. Keeping busy seemed to keep Mabozi off of him, and he was happy for that. Stupid useless son.
He raised his head up when he got close to the area where Mafa's skull-cave thing was. Was she around? he mused to himself, looking around with his green eyes to see if there were any signs of her, or her new pups.
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Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:15 pm
As it were, Mafa wasn't actually in her den at the time Tukutu decided to meander on by. She'd been avoiding it rather recently, trying to keep away from all those that would seek her, mostly her pups, or any of the underlings; they had all gotten so clingy since she'd weaned the litter. Mafa couldn't help but to feel suffocated by it all. She'd been so used to being on her own, no one bothering her at all, but with the coming of the pups, she had no time to herself.
The alpha had wandered deep into the graveyard, treading on lion territory. She felt no fear for being attacked by the scum. In fact, she welcomed it. She wanted a fight. Her muscles ached for a spar, her tounge thirsty for feline blood. But today was not a day for such a scrap. The lion invaded portion of her home was deserted, and Mafa did take that as a sign that she should move in.
Finally, growing bored, Mafa decided to wander on by her den, keeping distance of course. If no one was there to pester her, she'd take a nap, if there was, she'd loop around and wander some more. As she grew near, the scent of another reached her quickly. The female couldn't believe what she was sensing; she could tell that stink from anywhere. Tukutu. Her icy gaze turning to a glare, brows furrowing, Mafa trotted up to where her den stood, to indeed catch the male that had so eluded her standing right by it. Strangely, she was rather speechless, so she stood silently, seeing if he'd notice.
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Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:53 pm
Tukutu's own eyes slinted to a glare, shooting that look at the cave. So, she wasn't here. It was mildly disappointing, but he was secretly pleased that none of her pther pups were here. Blasted things. If he had the chance, he would of been tempted to attack them. Jealous? Maybe, but she didn't really need any of them but the lone female.
His ears popped up, his mind registering the sound of something. It was so slight that he wrote it off as nothing but a shifting of the bones, and turned to take his leave, intent on wandering off somewhere himself to sleep the rest of the day away. He knew that he should probably do more than that, maybe even try to scrounge up something to eat, but he just couldn't feel bothered.
So he was certain that the mild shock showed through his face when he had turned around to see the alpha, staring right at him. Yeah, his jaw did hang open, if just a smidge.
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Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 5:59 pm
Mafa had crept up silently, but still, she was surprised that Tukutu didn't notice that someone was watching him. Were his senses that dull? Maybe he'd been gone so long, that he'd forgotten what it was like to be a proper hyena. Around here, one always needed to be sharp, on their toes, especially if there were lions sleazing their ways around. Mafa liked to make sure all was in order.
As Tukutu turned to face her, the reaction wasn't exactly one she'd been expecting. She had been thinking something along the lines of being greeted with a sneer, some choice words, more insults. She was sure those were to come, but she had a tounge lashing for him as well.
Mafa went through a surge of emotions as they stood there, so close, yet at the same time, so distant. She wasn't sure how to feel towards him. She sensed that lingering tingle, somewhere in the back of her head that told her that she truely cared for Tuk, that she wanted him around, that she wanted him with her. She wanted that Tuk that reminded her of the past, when her life hadn't fallen apart, before she banished all emotion. But at the same time, she absolutely loathed him. How dare he abandon her and leave her with Mabozi? How dare he not even show his face until now, it'd been months, maybe over a year; she'd started thinking him dead. Ditching his son, that was definitely a d**k move. Hell, she hadn't even left Mabozi to rot, and she was glad she didn't, as the runt had really grown on her. In all, she just didn't know what to say, or how to feel, but at the moment, she was going to feel angry.
"Why the shocked face, Tukutu, it's you that had up and left. It's me, if anyone, that should be shocked to see you around. What is it that you want from me? Surely this isn't a visit just to say hello."
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Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 7:11 pm
Well, his mind soo recovered from that moment, and he quickly felt the muscles in his jaw tense up, as he geared up to give her probably what she was looking for; choice words that really held no merit from him.
But as soon as he opened his mouth wider to give her a snarl, he couldn't seem to make anything come out. He paused for a moment, closed his mouth again, and decided to just shoot a small glare at Mafa. Ugh, what the hell was wrong with him? He mentally gave himself a smack before trying to speak again.
At least this time, something came out.
"Ah, so's ah can't jus' say 'ello anymore, eh?" he said with a smrik, his tail swishing behind him in amusement. He felt that there was something of a serious tone, but after what had happened for the past couple days since his return, there was nothing really to worry about. She'd probably act as she always had, just...probably curse at him a bit more.
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Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:55 pm
Mafa piercing glare didn't lighten in the slightest, if anything, it only intensifyed as the male spoke. That stupid smirk of his just jogged her mind into quite a fit. She wanted to lunge at him, tear into him, let that blood pour as she ripped him to shreds. Either that, or she wanted to lunge at him, let her pent up emotion rip, and just break down completely.
However, she did neither as she let a low growl grumble up from her throat. Just what the hell was he thinking, just waltzing back into her life, when she'd been trying her damn hardest to forget all about him. Forget about the past. The male had no consideration, it seemed.
"No Tukutu, you just can't. Were it anyone else, I'd welcome a hello. But you? You, who up and took off right after your son was born, leave for... How long's it been? Too damn long to count, I'd say. You're lucky I'm not in the mood to tear your throat out right where you stand."
Mafa spit at the ground as she spoke, showing off her yellowed fangs in a snarl. If she wanted to, she could over power him, no doubt. The female tilted her head upward, her mind dashing to a very sadistic place as she imagined that. However, soon, she was right back to yelling at him, her tone dripping in the disdain she felt,
"Just where have you been? Sitting around with the lions? Picking your a**? Hmm?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 6:53 pm
Hoooly s**t. Well, it was quite obvious that someone was mad, but it sure wasn't him. He took a moment to keep an eye on Mafa's body position. He really wasn't up to any sort of fighting, or anything near that.
"'E seems fine ta me, Mafa," he said, though a bit guiltily. He knew that he did sort of wander off, but that didn't mean that he went really far. He just...wanted some alone time. Who could blame him if he lost track of time? Well...wait, it seemed that Mafa sure could, and boooy would she.
He shifted a bit uncomfortably, though, unsure as how to answer her question. He could be truthful, and blame it on the fact that he was looking for more members of the pack, but it wasn't like she asked him to do that. Actually, they seemed to be getting pretty large, really. Did they need more members? Maybe not, since the Maziko seemed to be pretty quiet.
"Er, well, ah was out spreadin' da word 'bout the pack, Mafa," he said, deciding to see if maybe giving her a bit of an ego boost would curb some of her anger.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:25 am
Mafa couldn't help but to raise a brow and prowl dangerously closer to Tukutu. He dare say that, that Mabozi seemed fine. He wasn't fine! He was clinically insane! The alpha shook her head in a fury,
"Seems fine? What damn Mabozi are you looking at? That kid's head is split more ways than a coconut falling from some damn palm tree! You'd have spent more than approximately thirty seconds with the boy, you might have just caught on."
Mafa spat as she spoke, not mindful to how spiteful she was sounding. He deserved this. Tukutu deserved all the lecturing in the world. She often wondered if Mabozi's little 'psychosis' had been her fault. But how could it have been? She'd raised him, took care of him, because in a way, she felt guilty that he was as stupid as he was. She'd hated him the second he was born, for killing his sister, for being the one that survived, whatever it may have been. Some how, she'd come to embrace his short-comings, though she would never go about such public displays of affection in public. Perhaps, it had been that with Tukutu gone with the wind, all she had was Mabozi. He'd helped her hold onto that memory of good times past.
Her cold glare was fixated, unfaultering, on Tukutu. What she really wanted to know was why he took up and left. But she knew she'd never get a straight answer about that. Mafa looked around quickly, making sure they were truely alone, and then her gaze dashed back to Tuk. When next she spoke, her tone was considerably softer, but still damn angry,
"Like you ever gave a flying s**t about this pack, Tukutu."
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:53 am
Tukutu wasn't sure just what to say about any of this. Obviously his previous thought of trying to get out of this through a bit of an ego stroking was not going to work. So what should he do? He thought about it for a moment, still staring at Mafa while his mind tossed through the pile of options. Sadly, none of those options would ever work in the real world, and so he was left with pretty much nothing. He did hold his gaze, as he didn't really feel like he had to look away from her.
"So yer angry 'bout that, eh?" he commented, a bit of pent up frustration tickling it's way into his mind. He really didn't think much about it, since while Mabozi was an idiot, it wasn't like he was incapacitated. He could think for himself, if dumbly, and seemed to have managed to keep himself together, even as an adult. Plus he figured it was his turn now to make sure that he didn't strave himself to death, but then again he was an adult, and Tukutu probably wouldn't be of much help now anyway.
"'E can speak, think, and walk. Ah dun really see what's wrong with 'em. Do yah take out e'erythin' that you dun like 'bout me onta him, Mafa?" He felt that maybe she did, but there was no lying to the fact that she took care of him. Though there could of been other reasons for that, though, besides out of the kindness of her heart. At least, the view he saw.
He mulled over her other comment a moment, feeling the silence grow heavy. It felt like no matter what he said, he'd get attacked for it, so hell, he'd just say what he felt like saying. No point in trying to go around it anymore.
"Dat may be true, Mafa, but that dun mean ah didn't give a flyin' shait 'bout somethin' else." He left his eyes wandere away from Mafa, down to his claws where he acted like he was inspecting them carefully.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:18 pm
The silence was deafening as they both stood there, Tukutu mulling over what he was going to say, Mafa waiting for a response. Mafa really wanted to go about pushing his buttons, playing about with his mind and frustrations. She wanted some emotion out of that damned mutt, because all he ever did was avoid the matter at hand with his blaise attitude. It pissed her off to no belief. It was obvious to he what he was planning to do. Scrape by with compliments and submissiveness. Well, that only worked on her subordinates. Not that she saw Tukutu as an equal, at least, not anymore; it was that he still held ranking above the others, being the father of his first, as it was miserable, litter.
"Ya think I'm angry? Well, aren't you the damn genius of the hour!"
Mafa scowled, her softer tone from before being replaced with an icy, uncaring one. The female was having a pretty bi-polar moment. Depending on what Tuk said to her, her mind would stray to extremes. Extreme anger. Extreme longing. Extreme resent. It was all whirling about in that skull of hers, eager to be released. Mafa hung her head low in an agressive position as she paced slow circles around the male. For some reason, she couldn't get herself to sit still, there was just too much on her mind to keep herself cool and collected. Thankfully, it was just Tukutu around to see her in such a state, and she didn't have much interest in his opinion of her mental state.
As Tuk spoke again, Mafa's eyes widened momantarily, only to narrow again into her characteristic glare. What he'd said had struck quite a deep vein. Blaming things on poor Mabozi. The bumbling idiot that he was. If Tukutu had been around for more than a smidge of time, he'd have seen what she saw in the pup. Seen past that idiotic shell. Once again, her voice lowered; the tone was more one of regret rather than spite.
"He's everything that I d... did like about you, Tukutu."
Do still like. It's what she wanted to say. But her pride prevented her from showing all too much of any kind of affection, especially seeing as she was still unbelieveably pissed off. Being so, Mafa couldn't help but to scoff at Tuk's next comment. Unlike his, Mafa's gaze didn't waver.
"Right Tuk, riiiight. You've never cared about anything other than your own damned hide."
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:35 pm
Ahah! Tukutu brushed away everything else that Mafa had said except for that one little thing. Of course, he wasn't going to pounce right up on it, no. He'd have to try and play this correctly if he wanted to get out of this situation. Of course, this forced him to have to think, and think things through. It was a pity that he only had a few moments to really think before he had to act, for he didn't want Mafa to slip in more words before he got the chance to speak. No, he'd pounce right on it...in a moment.
"Ah, ya got me dere, Mafa," he said, feigning to be hurt. It was mostly true, the fact that he didn't care about anyone but himself. It was a hard habit to break when you were booted out of your own family as a pup and had to take care of yourself to survive. He didn't get the advantage of getting a secondary parent after being abandoned, like a certain someone. He shot a glance at Mafa before going back to his claws.
With a sigh, he lowered his paw to rest on the ground, springing back up to all fours. He knew that Mafa liked to pace around, and he wondered if he really was viewed at as prey right now, or she merely wanted to make sure that there was no way he could run from this. Probably the latter, since running was one of the tossed out ideas to get out of this situation.
"But realleh, Mafa, ah must ask....what didja mean 'bout Mabozi, hm?" he said with a bit of honey, taking a few steps to try and cut her off from her pacing, to get her to really think about what she had said. SHe had slipped something, and he wanted to know what that something was. Now if only he could get it out of her. He'd admit wit wasn't his strongest talent.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:54 pm
Mafa rolled her eyes as Tukutu next spoke. Yeah, right. Of course she was right about him only caring for himself, but the fact that he'd show regret for it; well, that was definitely out of the question here. Of course, Mafa knew nothing about Tukutu's past. Anything before that day they two met when she'd been wandering about with Banzai was a mystery to her. She wondered if he remembered what it had been like back then... But at the same time, why should she care? His past was none of her problem, it was his own to deal with and gripe about. It wasn't like he even cared to talk about it. Then again, she wasn't one to speak, as she didn't care to speak of her past either. But in Mafa's mind, she was allowed to be hypocritical if she so pleased.
Seeing Tukutu get up and move made Mafa rather wary, and she picked her head up, ever vigilant of the situation. She had the feeling that all he wanted to do was run off again. Get as far away from any source of confrontation as was possible. No. No way in hell was she letting him do that. He'd stay. He'd hear her out. He had no other choice.
But it seemed Tukutu had grown a bit more clever since their last meeting. Mafa came to an abrupt halt as Tuk came in to stand before her. She snarled at him, but gave no other signs of attack. Her ears pressed back as she was questioned on her previous statement. She immediately regretted saying anything. Her eyes darted back and forth, it was obvious that now she was thinking of a way to skirt around the subject.
"Nothing, what do you think? He's a good kid, a decent hyena when he tries... That's all."
How could she tell him the truth? She couldn't. He'd lose all respect in her. Everyone would lose all respect in her. Emotion was weakness, and she didn't want to be weak. She was the alpha of this pack, and that was the only thing going on for her in her life. No way was she about to let that slip away. But right now, he heart was heavy with emotion. There was no way she could tell him that she hadn't offed Mabozi from the start only because he was Tukutu's son. Because she had a feeling she'd never see Tuk again, and Mabozi would be the rough little gem that would help her hold onto the memory of him. Or because when that pup had looked up at her so lovingly with that gaze that was so identical to his father's, it just made her want to keep him around even more. Or when she heard that stupid drawl of his. No, she couldn't.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:19 pm
Tukutu inwardly frowned at what he had gotten out of Mafa. Or well, it was more what she had gave him. Not enough of a hook to reel anything in, but it was a start, and better than nothing. He tried again to figure out just what to get out of her, but at least it did seem like he startled her with his direct question. Maybe if he could try again, he might get something....but he also didn't want to aggrivate Mafa enough that she would attack him, either.
But if she was faultering, if only a bit, then she might not force anything on him at all.
Tukutu's ears swiveled forward, as if to make sure that he heard that right. "Eh? Well, then maybe ya didna' mean what ya meant when yew said some not so good things 'bout 'im."
His mind shuffled through more thoughts. What else could he say? He himself was too stubborn to really admit anything himself, and so he stood there for a moment, still trying to figure out what to say. Even though there were a couple things he wanted to admit, he didn't really know how to go around it. The only way he knew how to stay out of too much trouble was to just let himself take all the blame and abuse, and go on. It was much easier to deal with that than this stiff feeling of a stalemate...or what he would consider a stalemate between them.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:55 pm
Mafa's mouth parted, as if she had changed her mind and was about to say something, however, she just licked her chops, her glare only strengthening. Two stubborn mules, butting heads, neither wanted to give in, neither willing to do so, where this gun slinger moment was leading, Mafa had no way of knowing. The female paused for a bit, taking a moment to collect herself. She indeed had started to faulter; it wasn't all so easy keeping up that emotionless demeanor when one of the only creatures she felt something for stood before her.
But she couldn't let him win, she didn't want him to. She wanted him to bare it all just as much as he wanted her to. It was a difficult situation and a really tense face-off. Mafa wasn't about to let him off the hook.
With a stirr of motion, Mafa lunged forward, as they were both now standing still. In less than a few seconds, the two stood face-to-face, Mafa's yellowed fangs bared as she rammed her snout into his. It was like looking down the barrel of a loaded gun. Mafa could go either way in this situation.
"Don't even pretend that you know what I say about him. He's got heart, unlike his mother, guts, unlike his father, useless as he is. Think what you may, Tukutu, he's the best of us both, and I do care for that boy, though I'll literally kill you if you let that slip to anyone, you might want invest some time in him as well."
Mafa backed off an inch, no longer touching him, but still staying uncomfortably close. For whatever reason, she was fine with admitting her adoration for her son. That was all she'd let slip, he could inferr from that what he wished. Though she hoped he wouldn't catch any subtulties. Through caring for Mabozi, she cared for Tuktu. She loved one, she loved them both, but she wouldn't admit that. Not unless Tukutu admitted something first. She refused to be the first to back down.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 2:13 pm
Tukutu was startled when he felt the snout of Mafa jam into his. It happened so fast he didn't have any time to react, so the words that she spoke rang in his mind like a bell, loud and clear. He didn't react to her statement, though, he moreso reacted to the sudden movement that Mafa showed against him. Perhaps he had been reading her wrong, but her physical actions compaired to her words confused him. Had he been wrong in his thoughts, or was she just merely playing with him? He couldn't quite tell, and there wasn't any way he could ask her.
He merely sat there for a moment, his face grim as he thought about what to do next. He tried to bring something up, but nothing would reach his throat. "Mafa," he said, quietly, thought not softly. "If dat's what ye want, ah kin do that."
He felt a little bothered, now. So he had done his best to try and get Mafa's pack larger, as large as he could help, and also spreading the word about it so perhaps more would join. But as he was doing something that he thought Mafa would be pleased with, it backfired, and he had done it all incorrectly. That was what shook him more than the near bite it seemed like Mafa almost delt him.
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