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 Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 10:18 am
After being introduced to all the grandcubs that were home at the time after being taken home by Manuku and Jasiri'maji, Mtima'safi had finally stolen away some time to talk alone to her son. She knew that talking about such sensitive information in front of Habu's children was not a good idea, especially where it was likely he would need to discuss it- or explain it- to Intombi before he dared to try it with the youths. They were getting so big, and Mtima knew that meant that the others were getting even bigger. Almost adult and not knowing their true father, their whole cubhoods a lie. This was for the best, Wahabu was a father worth knowing, she was sure of that.
"Wahabu," she sighed, taking a seat a short distance from the den where they were certain to get at least some privacy.
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 10:27 am
As always, Wahabu was happy to see his mother. Especially since he had been dying to show off his wonderful cubs, though he could hardly call them cubs anymore! They were getting so big, and it was good his mother had showed up sooner rather than later- too much longer and they might started going off on their own, finding their own little homes and such. It was inevitable, he'd done it.. and as soon as they were old enough to fend for themselves, he would have to encourage it so that Intombi would no longer feel pressured to stay.
However, he was made a little nervous by the fact she needed to talk to him privately. She'd left so suddenly before, after such a strange conversation, he could only expect some kind of continuation.
"I'm glad you finally got to meet them," he said, hopping over and sitting down near his mother, "Well, some of them anyway. Hard to get all eight in one place when it's not nighttime. Even then it's not easy."
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 10:34 am
Mtima smiled at her son, always happy to see him but lately she'd felt rather bad for him. He was a good lion, and he had wonderful cubs but he seemed otherwise unlucky. She was confident (or was it hopeful?) that Intombi would come around. She knew the lioness made Habu happy, and he tried hard to make her happy. It was just bad luck that the situation with Amadet had to come up, it'd be horrible if it ruined the progress they had made.
"They are a delightful bunch," she said with a smile, "But I have to talk to you about something else. I don't want to cause trouble, but I found everything- and everyone- that I was looking for."
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 10:41 am
He smiled at his mother, glad that she liked the cubs, glad that they all got along- and hopefully having to answer questions about her later wouldn't make him any less glad. He'd happily share all of his knowledge of the gods with his sons and daughters. Habu started when she changed the subject to the lions she'd been looking for before. He remembered their conversations, there had been some cubs that he'd seen in visions. Not many, but they looked like family- something he thought they agreed upon last time they spoke, though he assumed it was from his uncles. His mother's brothers, if they were alive again.
"Those cubs?" he asked, "I haven't had anymore visions of them, but if those visions were current then they must be pretty big now. Bigger than my bunch here."
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 10:47 am
"Yes, those cubs," she said, impressed that he remembered so quickly but also unsettled because it made skirting around the subject that much more difficult. There wasn't much opportunity to avoid telling him now. The goddess sighed, and looked around to make sure that none of the cubs were around- and off in the distance to make sure Pepo hadn't already rounded up everybody and found their way here. That would have been awkward, but the idea was funny enough to get a smile out of her.
"You remember when I asked about the lioness, Amadet?" she asked, "Those cubs you saw.. they were hers."
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 10:53 am
Habu tilted his head in confusion at the mention of how those cubs which had been thought to be family were some strange lioness'. They could still be relatives, though, his mother had brothers and not sisters. The poor lion still didn't clue in, or specifically recall the time his mother had asked if Amadet had come through here looking for her. Otherwise it might have been a more satisfying clue.
"Oh," he murmured, noticing the odd expression on his mother's face and tilting his head back up straight, "What's that mean? Why-" There had to be a reason she was here to tell him, and privately.
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 2:14 pm
How oblivious Habu seemed to be wasn't helping the situation much, if he could jump to his own crazy (but correct) conclusion it would be so much easier- she could just calm him down and tell him how she'd taken care of everything. Well, kind of. But no, she had to find a way to explain it all right now or this wasn't going to get done. With a sigh, she decided to just get it all out.
"Well, you remember how you were having trouble with your visions, had to get help from K'A just prior to when I showed up asking after her?" she asked, continuing without giving Habu much time for more than a nod, "I'm afraid you did get a visit from her, but you didn't remember when I asked. It was night, you were tired- I imagine the visions didn't help in distinguishing actual memory from visions."
Another pause, she made sure to keep direct eye contact with him.
"They're your cubs too."
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 2:28 pm
Habu watched his mother very carefully, maintaining eye contact throughout the start of her story. He nodded along as she went over little details he'd told her himself, and looked surprised when she said he did get a visit from Amadet. What this meant hit him very suddenly, and just a moment before his mother verbalized it. His eyes widened, but they were stuck staring at his mother as if waiting for a 'just kidding!' It would be a cruel joke, but something in the sad way she looked at him told him it wasn't a joke.
"B-but-" he stammered, "Wha- how-? Wouldn't I remember something like.. like that?"
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 2:44 pm
Mtima sighed, inching closer and nudging Habu affectionately. It wasn't easy for the goddess to panic her son, she was fond of mortals but she was most especially fond of and close to her only son. But in this case, she'd had to tell him- he'd want to know, especially where the cubs needed to know and were now heading this way.
"I'm afraid not if you were overtired and perhaps a bit out of touch with reality," she shrugged, "It's not your fault, Amadet did it to try to get to me. She was part of an old pride I guarded, she blamed my brothers and I for some things.. she wanted to be more important and wanted to take a cheap shot at me while she was at it. She knew how much I love you, it's not your fault at all- it's her fault."
Another sigh and she looked off in the distance.
"I've taken care of her, another pride has taken her in as a favor to me," she explained, "They're going to keep her there, keep her away from the cubs and away from you. I'd doubt she's in her right mind, the young ones are better off."
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 2:50 pm
All that was left for Habu now was to stare dumbly at his mother as she explained what happened, what the situation was. This lioness was actually insane and only trying to use his connection to his mother to get back at her and to make herself more important. It was a disgusting thing to do, but all he could think about was that there were even more cubs of his out there. He already had eight, he'd seen three more in visions. Good gracious, that was eleven cubs. Kanelo's name seemed more and more fitting.
"So she's not around," he mumbled, barely able to get out the questions he did have, "They have no father and now no mother? Wha- where are they?"
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 2:55 pm
Mtima's smile returned at Habu's questions, rather pleased with the reaction he had to this all. It was just as she expected, and the best she could have hoped for- he was far from rejecting the cubs, his greatest worry was actually them and not what their mother had done or where she had ended up. He was a good father, and hopefully that would help him get through this situation when they arrived and when he inevitably had to mention it to Intombi and the others.
"Oh, they have- or had- a father," she said, "They were part of the Jini-msemi pride in the swamps. I managed to talk to Pepo, your son. He informed me that they've been raised by a lion in the pride who claimed to be their father, I'd assume he was in on the situation from the start. They've been sent away for a pride ritual but Pepo said he would inform his sisters and they intend to come to meet you. That's why I've come to tell you all of this."
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 3:06 pm
Habu looked somewhat confused when she said that they did have a father. He immediately felt a bit better, but also a touch of jealousy and frustration. He'd proven he could be a father, a rather good one considering the sheer number of cubs he'd ended up having. But he was quick to remind himself that he was very unlikely to be informed of anything like this where it wasn't about him but about his mother and the lioness.
When suddenly Mtima said they were on their way here, he looked alarmed.
"They're coming here?" he repeated, looking back towards the den as if just realizing how he'd have to tell nine probably less-than-understanding lions. This was one of the few times he really felt outnumbered (the first couple weeks trying to keep track of eight cubs being another time).
"They want to meet me? Meet the family?" he murmured, looking back at his mother, "What am I supposed to do? Tell them? All of them?"
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 3:13 pm
"Yes," she said firmly, confidently and once again smiling at Wahabu. Being dramatic or upset about this wasn't going to make things better, he had to look on the bright side. Pepo was a wonderful boy, and she hardly expected the five girls could be too bad where he was so nice. At least, she hoped.
"Well, first of all," Mtima said, taking a deep breath to give Habu a minute to prepare himself for the next shocker, "There are six of them. One boy and five girls. One of the girls, though, might not make it here with the others. She left before they made a plan to get in touch with her, I've been put in charge of trying to find her."
She kept on smiling.
"Pepo is the only boy, and the girl I have to look for is Shemshi," she said, trying hard to remember all of the names that Pepo had told her, "Moyo, Kichea, Noki, Siyara. Those are the other girls, if I remember right. Introductions may be the best place to start, you'll find a way."
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 3:30 pm
Well, his chance with Intombi seemed to obliterated at this point. Even though her connection between cubs and love seemed vague, it might be held against him. Prove her point instead of helping to show her that it wasn't always how she thought it was. He sighed. His main concern should be the cubs themselves now, then. It wasn't their fault, and if they wanted to visit he would make sure they felt welcome.
Wait.
"Six?" he repeated, blinking, "Six? Why- why am I not surprised?"
Eight was an abnormally large litter, but six was up there too. He was either really fertile, kept mating with very fertile lionesses, some combination of the two or he was just really, really.. lucky.
"Fourteen, I have fourteen cubs," Habu said dumbly, "Manuku, Mabwitibwi, Kikimu, Benua'kifua, Nalaisa, Kim- Kimbizi-" He trailed off as he tried to list them all. This was quite the number. He already had eight around, none of them seemed to be on the verge of setting off on their own.. he could almost start his own little pride with all of them.
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 9:45 am
"Jasiri, Kanelo," Mtima continued his little list, unable to hide a small smile at his attempt and the look on his face when he trailed off, "Pepo, Shemshi, Moyo, Kichea, Noki, Siyara."
She stood up, nuzzling her son comfortingly. This was a lot of information, multiplied by two for the extra three cubs he hadn't seen in visions. With a smile, she stepped back to face him once again- it was clear she was getting ready to leave once again. She might be back to visit, having yet to officially meet all of the grandcubs (and with fourteen it wasn't surprising).
"Pepo is white with purple on his legs, spots and a stripe," she described, "You've seen him in your vision, I believe. Keep your eyes open for them, I don't know when they'll arrive but it has been a little while since I spoke to him as I've been dealing with Amadet. I promised to look for Shemshi, and as usual I cannot stay."
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