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 Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 4:32 pm
"Betcha can't catch me!"
Kiasi knew that if she really ran as fast as possible, Obi wouldn't be able to catch her, so she paced herself to a quick trot. She giggled as she looked over her shoulder, pleased to see the cub closing in on her. There was plenty of time for her to beat him at games. He was still so little that she didn't have the heart to truly play to win.
"Oh no, you're gonna get me!"
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 4:37 pm
"I betcha I can!" he squeaked, bounding after her. Obi was not particularly fast and was still very clumsy, his oversized paws flying out beneath him, but he certainly wouldn't back down from a challenge!
The cub practically flew after his aunt, grinning. "Can't stop me! I'm gonna getcha! Almost there!"
He didn't noticed that she slowed down even more. In fact, he thought he was getting faster! "I'm a cheetah! I'm faster than everybody!"
Obi finally managed to catch Kiasi's tail in his mouth, and as soon as he did he stopped, growling playfully and tugging at it. "That what you get for tryin' to run away from a cheetah, you silly waterbuck!"
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 4:43 pm
Though the two purple-streaked lions did not realize it, Cam sat up above them, perched quietly on the lower part of Pride Rock. He smiled as he watched Kiasi and Obi, unable to hold back a chuckle as Obi called her a waterbuck. The kid certainly had an imagination.
He wasn't just watching for the sake of watching, though. He trusted his mate's sister, but he felt uncomfortable leaving his cubs with anyone but his mate or the pride's nanny. There was something deep down in him that feared something would happen to them if he wasn't constantly watching. Cam wanted them to have the perfect childhood, unlike his own, and he was afraid something would spoil that.
But these thoughts did not run through his mind as he watched the two lions playing together. Kiasi adored her nieces and nephews and Cam was grateful for the extra help. He didn't have the energy to play with them all day, every day!
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 4:45 pm
"Oh no!"
Kiasi rolled to the ground dramatically. "Oh mighty hunter, won't you please spare my life? Your sharp claws and huge fangs could be the end of me, but then I wouldn't be able to play with you any more!"
She peered at him with wide eyes, pretending to beg.
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 4:48 pm
Obi had her 'pinned' as he stood on top of her. His aunt was small for an adult, but he, too, was small and so he was barely more than a hare trying to hold down a full-grown lion.
"I don't know," he said seriously. "I wanna keep playing, but cheetahs hafta eat! I don't know, missus waterbuck, what do you think?"
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 4:50 pm
"That's the thing," she said, taking on a grave tone. "If you're a cheetah, that means you'll never grow a mane. You don't want that, do you?"
While he thought about this, she seized the opportunity and rolled onto her belly, knocking him aside. "There's no time for a mighty hunter to think!" she said, giggling. "Or else you'll get tricked!"
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:47 pm
Obi tumbled to the ground, looking up at her sullenly. "Aww, that's not fair, Auntie Kia! I don't want to play any more!"
The cub had experienced one of his sudden mood swings and so he turned away, frowning to himself. He wanted to win! That wasn't very nice of her, to trick him like that!
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:51 pm
Cam, realizing Obi's bad mood, leapt down from his perch. "Shh now, Obi," he said, hurrying to his side. "You don't get to win all the time. It's not fair to your aunt if you throw a fit every time you lose."
He cast Kiasi a reassuring look, as the lioness was obviously nervous, afraid she had done something wrong. "So, Obi, I want you to go back home now."
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:53 pm
"But Daaaaad!" (O)
-----
Kiasi looked down at Obi. "He's right, Obi. That isn't very nice of you. Cubs can't act naughty if they want to keep having fun." (K)
-----
"But... but..." (O)
-----
"That's enough," Cam said, frowning. "I'm disappointed in you, Obi. Go home." He watched as the cub left, casting an angry glance at his father over his shoulder as he went.
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 10:00 pm
"I've never seen you so strict," Kiasi said softly. "You know, seeing Siri with cubs of her own... it makes me want to be a mother, too. But I don't know if I could do it. I don't know if I'd be a good mother, or too much of a - a friend, I guess."
She smiled at Cam. "You two are doing just fine, though."
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 10:03 pm
"I guess," Cam said hesitantly. "I still don't feel like a father, you know? I love them all, more than I ever thought possible, but I still haven't adjusted to the role. And I worry about Obi. He's just so..."
He sighed, shaking his head. "It's so easy to set him off. It worries me."
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 10:09 pm
"You just need time!" she replied brightly. "Don't worry, I think you're a great father, you..."
She stopped when he spoke of Obi. Kiasi had noticed it too. "I don't think it has anything to do with you and Siri," she said. "In my opinion, you're doing things just fine. I'd say maybe it's something he inherited, but neither of you have bad tempers. Maybe that's just... how he is? It'll probably go away as he gets older." She had no reason to believe that, of course, but it seemed like the right thing to say.
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 10:13 pm
Inherited.
Cam felt numb. Had he really done that to his son? The temper... did it skip a generation? His whole body froze him, unable to process the idea. No, no, it couldn't be, right?
"Oh... yeah, grow out of it," he said with a weak smile. "Probably. He must just be a, uh, moody cub..."
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 10:16 pm
"Hey, are you okay?"
Kiasi frowned, tilting her head. It was unlike Cam to seem so nervous. Knowing nothing of his heritage, she assumed that he was still doubting his skills as a parent. "You're a great dad! Don't worry, I'm sure he'll grow out of it. He just needs to realize that life is much more fun if he behaves nicely!"
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 10:19 pm
"Yeah, I'm fine. That's... that's probably it, yeah. I guess I just worry, that's all."
He offered her another meek smile before standing up, thinking of just one thing: Siri. "I'm going to go make sure Obi went straight home. You, ah, take care, okay Kiasi?"
How could he have been so thoughtless? Had he passed down those genes? Would Obi...
He shook the thought off, hurrying away before Kiasi could even reply, lost in his own fears.
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