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 Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:47 pm
A slender, small lioness manuevered her way through the jungle underbrush. But, she wasn't exactly alone, and two bright colored cubs trailed after her. One, Sanuye'Kiuma, was dominantly red, and on her side gleamed a black monster marking that mirrored her mother's. The other, Nuksani, was a shocking bright yellow, her pelt covered by red spots of various hues. Baala, in comparison, was dull, a dark black color with bright yellow markings and icy blue eyes. To any one's eyes, it was clear to see that her cubs would far outsize her. They were vibrant with life, and though they struggled through the jungle as she did, they seemed to be enjoying the change in scenery.
"Where's momma?" The yellow cub asked, dark eyes peering curiously up at her mother. Baala's female companion, Kiuma, was the other mother in question.
"She'll catch up." It was a simple response from Baala, but it was simple for a reason. In the midst of the jungle, Baala had gotten separated. Getting separated from their travelling group seemed to be... a common theme for Baala. It was how she ended up with two young cubs. But, they were old enough now to travel right alongside of her, and she had casually taught them some skills in hunting. She was doing everything she could to prepare them for life on their own, if they so chose to leave the family. It was something her own mother... never got the chance to really do. Baala had only learned enough to survive until Kiuma found her, and likely without Kiuma Baala would have slowly deteriorated and died. She wasn't cut out for life alone, but she was going to make sure that her children were.
She continued to push through the jungle, shoving vines out of the way so her cubs could walk safely. It was difficult, having to watch out for the pair of them and herself. But, it was something she willingly did. She loved her children to death, and all she ever wanted to do for them was the right thing. After pulling a certain vine out of the way, though, the trio abruptly came to a clearing in the jungle.
"Oh, momma!" Nuksani cried out happily, gesturing to the air with a yellow paw. "The orbs like it here."
"Nuksani, the orbs aren't..." She sighed softly, shaking her head and deciding to leave it. For a little while she would let Nuksani entertain the notion that the spots on her pelt were actual living balls of energy.
"Where are we?"
"I don't know."
"When's momma going to show up?"
"Soon."
And that was life. Getting lost, and dealing with cubs.
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Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:03 pm
Usha was a female of few clear true expressions to the point that when she wasn't putting on a mask of flirtatious (almost-)unintelligence, her expression ended up blank. But beneath that clean sheet was a bubbling of happy emotions. She thought of Ayni much in the same giddy way Gurami probably thought of her Banda. Of course, her thoughts were not too elevated. She wouldn't put Ayni before the pride but of course the green female would look down on her if she even thought of it, good ole Ayni. But as a queen there were certain responsibilities she needed to think about that she had yet to. Usha just needed a wake-up call. One that perhaps would come easily enough.
She was beginning to become accustomed to walking beyond the territory of the pride into the surrounding jungle. It was safe enough. Nothing to be afraid of and nothing to threaten her. She was a large lionesses in her pride which made her even larger by other pride standards. It meant that nothing really was a threat to her in this jungle as of yet. Wandering through it, she had to admit, she hadn't thought to run into other lions - even ones belonging to her pride. So her amazement was triggered by the sound of voices and drew her towards them.
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Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:12 pm
Her mood seemed to change almost instantly as she caught hint of Usha's scent. Her eyes sharpened, grew more intense as she made herself more aware of her surroundings. She really had little idea where she was, and after past grievances she was not trusting of strangers. It was one of the reasons she hated being separated from Kiuma, and having her cubs with her only made things words. Baala had to keep them safe as well, and so as one paw drew Sanuye into her side, the other barely managed to hook around Nuksani's body and bring her comfortably between her two front paws. Near her they were safe, and Baala could always sheild them with her body. After having been severely injured by a rogue, Baala just wasn't going to take the risk that whomever was coming her way was friendly.
"Momma, what's wrong? The orbs are happy." Clearly so long as the orbs were happy, everything was fine. Nuksani didn't seem to be the least bit worried, despite the tension that was growing inside of her mother. She still had the innocence of youth, and only something traumatic would strip her of that innocence.
"Hush, dear," Baala whispered, and as Usha drew closer her eyes became fixated on the pink lioness. A lioness. Well, that was a lot better than a rogue male, but she was large enough to beat a few decent-sized males into the ground. It was something to worry about, but Baala naturally trusted lionesses more than lions. A lion had hurt her afterall. "Hello," she said quickly, her voice strained with her tension. Naturally assuming she was in pridal territory (most lions didn't grow that big unless they were part of a pride), she continued speaking. "I'm sorry for intruding. The jungle is a confusing place to wander through, and even now I am separated from my companions."
There, that could be taken as a little warning. Baala had friends nearby, so it wouldn't be wise to... hurt her.
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Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:27 pm
For markings as foreign and almost as the omen they could easily represent, she found the sight almost welcoming although she could not sympathize, never having children of her own or having been subject to a rogue life. But she had never had the experience of helping people beyond settling disputes and offering advice so the chance to actually help someone find their companions (although how she had no clue) with the opportunity to find out more about this land outside where she was "forced" to remain was an enticing one. She also considered that the other knew nothing about her, giving her slightly the advantage in that she could be whoever she wanted. However, it might put them on better terms if she was relatively honest.
"You're perfectly fine." She was pretty sure that even had others of the pride stumbled upon them they wouldn't have to come. As to males, she didn't know since disputes about what had happened to rogue males - other than them being brought in to join the pride - never reached her ears. "I imagine the jungle must be," she acquiesced. "Should you need shelter, the pride would gladly accommodate you for the night." Not to say they'd feed them. But shelter, yes. "Otherwise, let me extend an offer of help to you in regards to your companions."
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Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 2:05 pm
Baala was becoming slightly reassured that her life and the lives of her cubs were not immediately in peril. Usha seemed open enough with her, and did not seem like an unkind lioness. Perhaps it was the pink that set her off guard. It was a friendly colour, a deceiving colour. Baala simply did not know whether to be even more cautious because of it, or less so. Still she held her cubs to her side, though it was becoming difficult with Nuksani's restlessness. The cub saw things that were not necessarily real, and they proved to be a great distraction to her. It was hard enough raising two cubs, but when said cubs were not exactly mentally sound... it was a strain. She loved them still, but until they were still some form of a burden. They were a constant reminder of what had been done to her... and her past was something that she would very much like to forget. It had been traumatic for the small lioness, too small to defend herself against much of anything (though she had the attitude and the will to).
"It's not a terrain I am accostomed to," she confessed to the pink lioness, and sneakily she pinched Nuksani's tail to signal to the cub to stop squirming and trying to get free. Of course the action was met with an indignant yelp of 'MOM!', but Baala didn't much mind. "I would happily accept your offer to stay the night. It is rare for us to have shelter, and it would really be a relief to sleep in peace tonight." It was unable to be measured how much Baala was relieved that this lioness was actually aiding her instead of harming her. Kiuma had been the only one to give her aid in the duration of her life, besides her mother (but her darling mother was dead now, and had been for a little while). "You're too kind, especially for someone who has just stumbled rudely into your lands."
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Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:18 am
The other must never had heard of them, a curse and a blessing. But she trusted the female based on first impressions and because there were no males around. She felt the need to explain least the other think she would be walking into a trap of some kind. "You are alone and staying in one place increases one's chances of being found again. Being we are a pride, we have plenty of eyes and ears. If I ask, they will keep their eyes open for your companions and bring them here, or you to them if it is unnecessary. And you have no males with you to tempt our's with tales about patriarchal prides. So there can be no danger with your entrance." She smiled down at the cubs. "And your cubs look like they'd fit right in."
They hadn't been lacking characters to visit them, just ones Usha deemed worthy. They had brought in males but their genetics hadn't done their full potential and left her down. A female Kianga had also come and she had proven her worth extremely well to the other queen. But Usha was always hoping for more like her. It was something that she only realized just as she thought of this. That maybe being in her pride lands would tempt the female into joining. Well, maybe not. She would hold too low a rank for Usha to hint at it. She was always sad when those of good character were ill-fated with neutral coats.
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Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:41 pm
Baala was beginning to slowly understand what kind of pridal lands she had stepped into, and she knew that the idea of a pride full of females would appeal to Kiuma and even herself. But, she also knew Kiuma to be a wanderer. The red lioness didn't even stay in her homelands for a long duration of time during their visit, and so while the idea was pleasing to Baala's ears... she knew that they would move on once she was able to meet up with Kiuma once again. How long it would take for the pride to find the red lioness, Baala did not know, but she hoped it was soon. She had no qualms about staying for a day or two, but she needed to get a move on. Baala travelled slowly enough as it was with two cubs in tow, and she hated holding Kiuma up.
"I'm glad I have not brought any danger to your pride. So, is it safe to assume that males are not thought of that highly here?" Nuksani struggled against her paws, and with a soft sigh she let the eye-rape yellow cub go to run around. It looked like normal play to an outsider's eye, but Baala knew what her daughter saw, and knew that she was playing with whatever she saw at that moment. It was distressing, but Baala had grown used to it and had accepted it. She had told Nuksani repeatedly that what she saw wasn't really there... Nuksani was just too young to understand such a concept. "Hmm, I'm sure they'll be happy with being able to fit in some place. It's hard on them, our constant travelling. If I could have it my way we would have settled down someplace for a little while to raise them until they were old enough to travel safely."
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 5:40 pm
Usha twinged just a bit, afraid that Baala would misjudge her and her pride on why they scorned males. "Males when our society was patriarchal brought us shame, harm. We have done what he have done according to our beliefs and to keep our own safe."
At her next statement/wish, she could only nod absently. She had no similar personal experience to draw from. But she watched the bright yellow child almost affectionately because it was life and Usha was so dull unless she was being fake or had Ayni around. She smiled. "The Kunanda'Nakhun is always open to new people who would embrace their views."
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 7:52 am
"Males do harm where ever they go," she said casually, her blue eyes glancing down to her two young cubs. They really were too little to be travelling so, and Baala truly wished that... they could settle down for a little while and wait for her children to become old enough to travel. They were tired out easily by a day's worth of travelling, and in the morning they wouldn't get up until late... and that consumed more time that could have been spent travelling. It was difficult bringing cubs along with her, and she had the nagging feeling in the back of her head that this wasn't right for her two children. They needed a stable environment, some place to grow up happily and not turn out like she was, small and almost entirely dependent on another lioness. "I'm not unaccostomed to the pains that they bring," she finished, glancing away from her cubs. She would not have had them if a certain male had been kind, but in the depths of her mind she knew she'd rather not have gone through the trauma, even if it brought her two gorgeous (but slightly insane) cubs. "I don't want my girls to become accostomed to what they bring."
She shook her head with a sad smile, her attention now fully centered on the pink lioness. "And what views are that?" Baala was trying her best to wipe away the sadness that had seeped into her heart. She didn't like remembering what that male had done to her, and she didn't like thinking about what was best for her cubs... because she only came to the conclusion that she was not what was best for her own children. Oh, how she desired to just have them settle down in a pride of their own and grow up old and safe... and happy. For some reason she did not believe that they would find those things travelling with their two mothers.
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 12:09 pm
Usha raised a brow. "It is good to hear that not all are brainwashed to think about males in a superior fashion." From the way the newcomers to the Kunanda pride acted, it left her to think that everyone in the rest of the world was incredibly tolerant and forgiving of males to the point that they would not blame them as a sex, a whole. But they were guilty of many things and thus not worthy of being kept around except for when their genes were needed so that a female could reproduce. Usha twinged internally at her next statement. She didn't mean to sound like she was trying to sell the idea of the pride to her. "They won't have to worry about that while they're here."
The phrasing of the other's sentence would not have been polite in any other tone of voice causing her mouth to form a frown momentarily. "Males took advantage of the emotions, the feelings, and the strength of females to meet their own ends, giving little care for the abuse they have caused them. So males were made to meet their toh- they should never be placed above the system. And females are no longer to be oppressed by males. We live with respect and honor, and we hold ourselves to our standards day after day. Females are taught to punish themselves when they break the rules and damage their ji. The job of the males is to hunt for themselves, and baby-sit and procreate when they are needed."
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 12:29 pm
"I was raised never to trust any one, but those I have come to trust have all been female. Though, once upon a time I met a genuinely kind male who aided me and helped me through my physical weakness until I met my companion, Kiuma." He was a distant memory, though. Baala had been weak, exhausted, and thirsty. She remembered his kindness, and even what he looked like, but his name eluded her. He had been one of the few kind males she had met in her life, and deep down she appreciated the lion that had aided her. If he had not, it was likely she would have moved on sooner and missed meeting Kiuma entirely. Kiuma had saved her from the brink of death... which meant that Baala would not be alive if it was not for that male. "But I have also met males that do not deserve the life they live," she continued on, her lips twisting into a frown. Oh, yes, she had a few bad run-ins with males, meetings that she did not want a repeat of. "Yes, I have figured as much out by now."
Baala hadn't been reared on manners. She had been reared on doing what was necessary to survive, and so when it came to conversation she was usually blunt and to the point. But she was polite enough to sit in silence while Usha explained the pride's beliefs. Even when she believed the pride's beliefs to be a little eccentric, and certainly different than what she was used to... she said nothing poor about it. "So, it's like a switch of roles between males and females? That's what I'm understanding it as." She shrugged her shoulders, groaning softly when Nuksani talked to the air.
"Nuksani..."
"MOM, you're interrupting!"
Baala shook her head and turned her gaze back to Usha.
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 12:39 pm
Usha's gaze shifted curiously over to the yellow one but took care not to appear as though she was trying to find what was wrong. Thus it was a brief glance and she shifted her gaze back to the mother. "I could not honestly tell you," she said. Her whole life had been here, in this place, that her ancestors had founded not too many generations ago, being forced from their home in Eurasia. "The males live on the outskirts and do not come in further unless a female brings them in. I suppose you could say it is almost as though we are two separate prides living and cooperating together." Although technically they weren't cooperating since the males weren't viewed as equals.
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 1:03 pm
Baala caught the brief look that Usha gave her yellow daughter, but she decided against enlightening her. It would be cruel to tell a stranger about her daughter's illness. Nuksani did not need it to be flaunted about that she saw things that were not real. She didn't want to alienate the pink lioness from her family, and she didn't want Nuksani alienated from the pink lioness either. She wanted what was best for her cubs, and keeping Nuksani's mild case of insanity a secret was best for her. Besides, if Usha was attentitive enough she would figure out what ailed the young yellow cub on her own. Baala hoped, though, that the lioness would be kind enough not to bug her daughter about it. Baala had tried to prove to Nuksani that what she saw was not real... but it had not worked. She wasn't sure that all of the talking in the world would convince Nuksani that she was talking to something that wasn't real.
"It's a surprise, then, that I haven't run into any males around here." She shrugged her shoulders, though, showing that she didn't much care. Baala was glad that she hadn't seen any males. In this time in her life, they would freak her out more than anything. She had learned to never trust them, not after what one had did to her. "Well, that's certainly an interesting way to run a pride. Of course, I have never been part of one to know how many others function."
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Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:02 pm
One side of Usha's mouth drew up into a smile, an amused smile. "Well the males are pretty well-behaved themselves and keep to themselves. We haven't had enough outside influence to corrupt their way of thinking. For the most part the pride members firmly believe in our teachings and our way of life." Essentially what she meant is there was no male saying "this is not how you should live. Countless males are equal everywhere else. And in some, superior." And there were no females who put males beside them or above them as equals or superiors. Well, just one. But as soon as Usha had enough proof that would be taken care of. It was her job.
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 7:32 pm
"Come on Nuksani, stop playing for a little bit." She was once again distracted by the antics of her cub. Her blue eyes were narrowed with concern, brows drawn down to make tiny little creases in her forehead. Naturally, Nuksani didn't see any reason in listening to her mother, and as if taunting her stayed just out of her reach, swatting playfully at the air and giggling to herself. Baala was personally glad that Sanuye was considerably easier to handle, and generally an easier going cub. But, then again, Sanuye may have similar symptoms to her sister that just were not popping up at this point. Baala could only hope that any traces of insanity from Sanuye's father remained dormant in her beloved daughter. Baala did not know what she would do if both of her children turned out to be like Damu'Jicho... She shuddered at the very thought of it, a look of pain momentarily darkening her face.
"I can see how that's a good thing, that your males are well-behaved. Most of the males I've seen aren't well-behaved, at least the males outside of this pride. It seems like a paradise for females. They can be free from the troubles that males bring." A rueful smile twirked up her lips, and when Nuksani happened to accidentally wander too close to her mother, Baala snatched her up in her paws and pulled her against her chest. "You should really listen to me when I say that play time is over."
"But mommmmmm!"
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