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 Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:52 pm
Life was good; that was the initial thought within Kianga's mind as she leaped over the small brook, using the rocks as stepping stones to aid her. It was only when she'd safely crossed to the other side, that she noticed the brilliant male; his dark pelt color somehow kept him ocult, yet his strange markings called out to her.
She knew this one.
Granted, she'd never talked to him, but Tej had spoken of him during one of their many afternoons together; since both lioness had agreed to bond together, they had been spending leisure time together as often as they could, "Greetings," she called out to him, then padded nearer, because well... though he was male, he'd been in the pride long, long before Kianga was born, she was sure, and it was always good to get to know others. Especially others that could tell her new, interesting things.
Chizoba lifted his head. He too recognized the girl at sight, though they'd never spoken. It wasn't his place to speak with a female that did not address him first -- at least, so long as that female was an adult and not one of his queens. He knew her name, however, just as he knew all the names of the pride members, and each of them by sight. "Lady Kianga," He dipped his head to her, in as much of a bow as he could manage without rising. "Do forgive me for not rising, but old bones are not what they once were." The male chuckled softly. He wasn't that old, surely, but the pre-dawn chill that was prevalent, even in the jungle, did cause him some pain now. "You're looking quite well this morning, I might note."
"Chizoba," she smiled slightly, the tilt of her head apparent, almost as if she were mildly (though pleasantly) surprised that he knew her name. Of course, after just a moment's thought, she figured it was his job, in a way. If she understood correctly, he was the one that maintained the peace between he genders... he was between them and served as the voice of the totality of the males.
All in all, Tej spoke well of him. As well as the queen would speak of a male, "That is fine," she assured him, seating herself down a small, comfortable distance away so they may talk, "I fancy a small rest anyhow," turning to glance around her she chuckled faintly, "I'm nervous though; the day fast approaches," no need to say what day it was; she knew nothing of the bonding ceremony, nor could she be told anything about it, but he'd understand at least.
"Yes," He nodded, "Such things do always seem a rush to those involved in them. Not so much to those of us outside, of course.. which is probably all for the best, if anything is to be done." Chizoba commented lightly. Though he'd never been a father himself, his manner always seemed to imply that he was among the most experienced of fathers. He smiled at her, and gave the slightest chuckle as he teased, just a tiny bit, in an attempt to make her relax. "But you'll find, I think, that once it has happened, you'll wonder what you were so nervous about in the first place.
A nod of her head, "As it should, since it's not a matter that would be of bother to anyone, one way or another," it wasn't, really, for whom someone picked as a mate shouldn't ever be of bother to anyone. Especially not whom the queen picked, at any rate, "It's all new though," turning her head, she gazed down at him out the corner of an eyes, "Especially to one new to the lands. There's lots to know, and lots to pick up on. At times, it's too much. I wonder how it is then, that this place smells like home..."
"Our hearts may often times understand what our minds have yet to catch up to, I'm told." Chizoba chuckled softly. His tail batted at the ground between them, a lazy action, as he gazed out lovingly across the fertile, living land about them. This pride was his home, of course, and had been since he was small. "Though if there is a custom one is... confused about, to ask would be better than to suffer in silence, one might think."
"Wise words, though," turning her head, the pink female gazed down at him, then nodded again. Wise words indeed, but at the same time, expected, for after all, he was old, and on top of that, obviously intelligent. His ways were charming, really, and it was then that Kianga frowned, a thought crossing her mind.
As far as she'd been told, he was but one of few that had yet not fathered cubs; it was odd that he wouldn't have been chosen yet, "I've yet to find a custom I'm baffled over, but my own feelings, and those were dealt with according to traditions of the pride. For that I'm grateful to these lands... they've showed me what I've been missing... what I'd been searching for, for so long," her tail too, lashed, then curled about her form.
"Indeed, we are too grateful than a flower might find its roots planted so firmly in our midsts. It has been long since She has smiled so; it makes an old heart light again, to see these things."
Why this would be something of interest to the male, Kianga knew not, but somehow, it made her feel nice inside, to know that it matter. She mattered, "It's been so long since I've had a pride..." what she longed for now, was a family; at the same time, however, she was in no rush, "You might be old, but you're wise... and that is something that can only be gained with age," she told him as she finaly lowered herself down to a laying position.
"Ah, but is it not wisdom to recognize such things in others?" He countered, easily falling into something akin to familiarity with the female. It would never become anything informal or disrespectful, of course, it couldn't.. but familiar was treading a line he was long since used to. "Perhaps you'll take an old man's word, then, that there are many forms of wisdom in the world. That gained by old age is but one of them... if, seemingly, the most fickle."
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Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 5:21 pm
"Maybe," she smiled, "Maybe not; maybe it's just need. Or maybe it's just a former rogue's keen sight... the rogue lands have taught me a few things hard learnt. One is to pay attention. Another is to recognize both virtue and not in others," familiarity was fine with Kianga; in a way, the older male was easy to view as... well, the idea that came to mind was 'father', even though Kianga could not remember her own. He'd died before her time.
Chuckling lightly, the lioness nodded, "Aye, perhaps. We are fickle creatures though."
"That we are, my dear, that we are. And as with all things, wisdom--even such born of age--fades quickly with too much use. As do its hosts, I'm afraid." He smiled, "So marks the passage of time, the roll of sun over our backs. Each thing moving in harmony and communion with one another... .. " Chizoba trailed into a long silence before he shook himself with a laugh. "And as my own mind fades and wanders, it would seem."
"We are only mortal though; that is the fate of all creatures," she smiled at him, "If I've gripped the beliefs of this pride well enough, however, it is believed we come back... to new life, and are given a life according to how we honorably we lived our last," pausing, the lioness allowed her gaze to hood, "Time passes for all of us. It is honor that should rule us though and you, Chiboza, seem honorable, wandering mind or not."
He laughed at that, well and truly for it was a happy thought to be thought of so kindly by anyone, much less a 'strange' female. He dipped his head once more towards her and offered one of his most grandfatherly of smiles, "You speak rightly of our beliefs, of course. When we have done and gone from this place, we will not truly be gone. But, in an sense.. we will be. It... " he shook his head, "it becomes near heresy for me to continue pass this point, I'm afraid."
"It's a matter of time, for all of us anyhow," she looked up through the canopy, curling her forelegs under her frame, as if her mits were cold, even though this was not the case, "Don't worry. I'll learn, with time. And patience," the beliefs of the pride weren't hard ones to accept, but it took time to get settled in. Even though Kianga was sure she'd picked up the basic and most important things, she still found herself turning towards Tej for guidance.
That too would change... in time, "What of you, Chiboza? What are your thoughts on this fine day?"
"Fleeting and whimsical," he smiled, watching a passing butterfly. "The beauty of those about me, and the way of life which we walk together. The things that have been and things that may yet come to pass. My mind, I fear, has little concept of linear thought."
"Those are nice thoughts to occupy yourself in," she told him with a smile, "It might just be for the better that it doesn't. It'd avoid a lot of trouble if some fellows could take a step back and see what foolish behavior they fall prey to at times," she wasn't talking about any particular individuals, that was clear, "Beauty... is a strange concept all of it's own."
"Its a concept of opinion, and they are all strange in the end. Yet, one might choose to view it with the thought that everything has a beauty of its own, even the drab trees or earth. They are perfect for themselves, and therefore are they not beautiful?" He chuckled, "Such questions, of course, must remain rhetorical, as they are opinions still."
The male stretched a little on the ground then slowly rose to his feet. He gave a bow to the female, as best a lion could offer. "I do hope you'll forgive a male's impertinence, but I'm afraid its getting rather late and I've yet to partake of my meal. It's best I go before the others drive away all the game." He smiled, not at all meaning the words as harshly as they may have come off, then slipped away from her and into the jungle. As much as he liked speaking with Kianga, there came a point when speech with females was hard and uncomfortable. He was far more inclined to spend his time around the men, after all.
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