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 Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 3:32 pm
"Ugh!"
The teal lioness couldn't wait to get herself out of that awful cave! Sure, she had signed up to be Bakari's mate, but hell! She really didn't expect to have cubs that quickly. Sure, they were cute, but four girls was anything but easy to take care of. And the next thing she knew, they were almost adults. Where did the time go?
Well, at least she could have some special Latifu time, now. Spending so much time with her mate and kids had been great, but sometimes she just wanted to be by herself. Little did she know that some day she was going to miss the times with her family. But for now, she was more than thrilled to head to the water pools and get a good, long drink in some peace and quiet. "Hope that there's plenty to go around, I'm thirsty."
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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 3:41 pm
 Vinaya loved her new homeland more then anything. That didn't, however, change the fact that she still had a few self-doubts. She kept telling herself that, logically, most people felt nervous when they took on an important position. But it was her heart that constantly protested, asking if she could really do such a job as being queen. Questioning if she could possibly make Upe happy. That, perhaps, was the one she fretted over most of all. She adored him and she was too nervous to say so.
With the upcoming wedding and crowning ceremonies it was nice to get away to relax for a change. They had rehersals and such and if not she seemed to be spending time with her future mate. Not that she minded this too much, but to get a bit of time without worry was relief. She was always so self-concious around him. She couldn't help it. She feared, no matter how illogical it was, disappointing him.
She slipped through the trees, having finally mastered manuvering in the different terrian from her birth. Nosing past a fern she found the water's edge at last only to find it occupied. She would like a drink as well, but she would not intrude. "I'm sorry," she murmured, "I hope you don't mind?"
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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:06 pm
The teal lioness had made it to the clear water pool in peace, even though she had taken her time. There was a piece of her that still panicked over her girls, wondering if they were all of a sudden going to need her for something. She didn't grow up with a mother, or really any parents at all, so she was learning all of this first hand, and it was quite exhausting.
Lost in her thoughts, the voice had hit her mind a little slowly. "Hm?" Her ears swiveled to face the strange face before her deep blue eyes found green ones. Oh. Well, at least it wasn't anyone she knew. Heavens only knew just how large Bakari's family was, she hadn't a clue when she had accepted to be his mate!
"Well, certainly!" she said with a casual tone, unaware as just to who the purple lioness was. Being cooped up for ages could do that to you. "I don't own anything here, I'm sharing just as everyone else should. I'm sure you're much better company than any of my daughters, let me tell ya. As soon as puberty hit I thought I was going to lose my fur from nerves." She quickly jumped into casual talk as if she had always known the lioness. It probably came from living here long enough to really feel like it was always her home.
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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:24 pm
Vinaya was glad her presence was accepted so quickly, especially since the other lioness seemed so distracted. She knew that feeling. She moved over to the water's edge, dropping her head to drink but keeping her emerald eyes straining upward to look at her fellow pride-member. It was only respectful to look at someone as they talked, after all. Twitching her ears and sitting up again she murmured, "I'm sorry...that sounds stressful. I'm sure they have the best of intentions, though." Realizing her maw was dripping with water she lifted a paw to wipe it clean, embaressed.
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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:37 pm
Latifu was about to go into another rant about her daughters when she noticed that the other wasn't as...animated as she was. Well, that seemed odd. Was she upset about something, and merely wanted some peace? Latifu didn't even realise just how much of an annoyance she could be when her mouth went off like that. She was mildly embarassed herself, but certainly didn't show it. Unless growing a bit quieter showed it.
"Umm...are you alright, then?" she asked, cocking her head to peer at the purple lioness. "You're mighty quiet. Do you not want to speak, then? I apologize if I seem to grate on your nerves. It's just been a while since I've been able to talk to anyone that I'm not directly related to, or god forbid, mated to."
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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:44 pm
"Oh no no!" Vinaya insisted apollogetically, "I'm sorry. I suppose I'm just a little tired. Learning all those rituals..." She shook her head, looking rather worried she had upset the other lioness or seemed apathetic. Even if she hadn't been preparing to become queen she would have wished to listen. She had always wished to help others...the problem usually was that she didn't believe she was much of an assistance.
"Please, if you have something you wish to get off your chest...I'll listen, it's the least I can do," Vinaya assured her, her ears flickering back sincerely, "I'm Vinaya."
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:08 pm
"Latifu," she replied, flashing a grin. Well, a pretty name for a pretty girl, but she still didn't know much else. If she wouldn't find out now, perhaps other members of the pride knew about her.
"Aaaah. No, it's alright," she waved a paw. She didn't want to load so much of her own problems onto a lioness that she didn't even know that well.
"All I can do is give a little advice, really. And I hope you don't take this wrong, in case you're not at that stage in your life, but I do sometimes wish someone told me; Make sure you're ready for it before you do it." She had inadvertantly lowered her head to creep closer to the other lioness, to make sure that she heard her. Oops, she scooped her head back up, sitting stright again. "Just....don't do something that you're not sure you're ready for. Sometimes I regret jumping head first into becoming a mother without anyone to turn to for advice."
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:26 pm
Her words...they made Vinaya a little nervous. She couldn't help but think of her own situation. Was she ready to be queen? Was she ready to be married....? She wasn't sure. But she loved this pride, with all her heart, as she did Upe...did that count? Suddenly she felt dwarfted by her inexperience. She hesitated. She didn't want to bother the other lioness, but she really wanted to know, to hear what she had to say.
"You said...you weren't ready but....didn't you love him?" She asked carefully, looking a little unceratin.
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:39 pm
"Hmmm?" Latifu was a bit thrown off, as it seemed that this lioness was a bit more affected by her words than she was expecting. She had been expecting her to just shrug it off with a small laugh. But Vinaya seemed to take it a bit differently.
"Well, I did. I'm sure I still do, the dumb oaf. I guess the longer you're with someone, it turns into a deep friendship. At least, with me. I think we need a little jump start to actually be in love again, but I'm sure it can be done." And here she was, rambling, and probably filling the purple lioness' mind with other doubts.
"Well, forget everything I just said. When it comes down to it, I do still love him. He gave me four beautiful daughters, helps to keep them happy, and tries his best to keep me happy. I'm sure if you knew him, you wouldn't understand just how I stand him," she took a moment to laugh, thinking about how nervous he always got, and how she always used to be able to pounce him when they were cubs. "But we're together, and I wouldn't change it, no matter what else I say."
She hummed for a moment. "I think the cubs were a little soon, but it worked out well. We're all happy and healthy, after all! I'm sure these lush beautiful lands helped. I'm not from here, I joined to be with Bakari. And I certainly don't regret that move, either."
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:46 pm
Vinaya sighed. Latifu's words made her worry. "We're getting married soon..." she thought aloud, her ears flicking back as her eyes diverted to the ground, "I don't even know how he feels..." If Latifu and her mate had gotten together knowing that they loved each other and they didn't feel sparks anylonger...how would it be for her? If he loved her, would he grow to feel there wasn't love in time? If he didn't care like she did...would he slowly stop caring about her all together? It was a bit frightening. She had though everything was fine but maybe...things were more complicated then she thought. She felt so niave.
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:57 pm
Latifu's ear twitched. What? Well, news to her. She stared blankly at Vinaya for a moment, letting it all sink in.
"So wait...you're getting married to someone, but you're not sure how he feels about it?" This was something that didn't make any sense to her. What was the point if you didn't love them? Latifu could only guess that either Vinaya loved this mysterious bachelor, or she didn't, and was nervous about how it would go.
"Well, how do youn feel about it? You seem pretty unsure yourself, if I can judge you correctly."
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 7:07 pm
Vinaya flushed under her fur, having not realized she had spoken aloud. Not only that, she had never really talked to anyone about...well, her and Upe. It had always felt as though her doubts, her silly thoughts weren't important enough to verbalize. "Ah! Well...." she squirmed, embaressed. She could feel her blood pounding in her eyes, "I...well...Upe and I are to be married, as arranged from when we were little." She shuffled her paws, "I...I adore him, we just...haven't...talked...about anything like...that...." she trailed off, unsure of what else to say.
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 7:19 pm
Latifu couldn't help it. It was so cute! She laughed at the timid lioness. More at her situation than her directly, though.
"So you ended up falling in love with the one you were to marry anyway? Then I don't see the problem there, Vinaya. It's good that you love him! From my understanding, most arrainged marriages don't end that well, and the closest that the two get to is an awkward friendship. I'm sure everything will be fine."
She reigned in her broad smile to a small, concerned one. "Do you not speak to him about the two of you together, to be mates?" That seemed a little odd, unless he was just as shy about it as she was. If he was, well, then that would be interesting!
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 7:30 pm
"Really...?" she asked tentively, looking a bit...puzzled and surprised. She supposed she hadn't really thought about what it would have been like if she didn't care of Upe. She just had. It was a bit of a relief, she supposed, that Latifu thought it was great. "I...guess I've never...heard much about arranged marriages," she admited shamefully. For a lioness who was rather clever, she certainly felt like a babe, knowing nothing. Latifu was far more knowledgeable.
"No...we...haven't..." she paused and then hurriedly tried to make an excuse, "We've been learning all these ritutuals and stuff you see...I suppose there just hasn't been a lot of time..." She knew they could have made time, though. She just didn't want to admit it. Admit she was too scared to tell him.
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 7:39 pm
Rituals? Perhaps...was this Upe the heir? She had been living in a rock for a while, but she wasn't dense enough to not know at least about the royalty for the pride. If it was true, then here she was, speaking with the future queen! Well, not much she could take back, and plus she wasn't even certain. So she quickly decided to not change what she was doing at all, since at least she was getting some information out of her.
Her tail flopped behind her as she felt a bit devious. "But, during those times, if you're spending any time together, does he ever steals glances of you? Does he seem to feel a bit shy around you as well? I'm sure there's hints, even if you've never actually asked him directly. Sometimes it's the direct stuff that's the hardest."
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