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 Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 10:08 pm
(( Logged from AIM ))
Jasiri yawned, and rolled onto his side. After opening his eyes he stood up and stretched. Quickly he looked around to check and see if anyone was already up in his family's den. It looked for the most part that everyone was sleeping, or at least trying to. As if up to no good he furtively exited the den.
When he stepped outside he could see the sun shining brightly, and he wanted to get a move on with things. He'd been wanting to get out more recently to meet people, and possibly look for a new situation so to speak. He loved his family, but he just wanted to find someone new to hang out with. After looking around he set off in a certain direction, not particularly looking for anything.
In a dramatic attempt for someone to notice him, he let out a long and unnecessary sigh. "Oooh. How I wish someone could possibly understand the trouble I'm going through." If just anyone walked by they would probably hurry in the other direction, because Jasiri often would talk to himself to try to gain attention. That was his goal most of the time: attention. He craved it and loathed it at the same time. He loved being the center of attention, because coming from a litter of eight he often got overlooked. So, any attention he got from anyone was treasured deeply.
Mimea was confused. It was not a new feeling for her. In fact, it was all she had felt since she left the comfort of her swamp home. How was she supposed to find her new name? It was the only thing that hadn't been made clear to her. Was she suddenly supposed to know it? Would someone tell her? Would it come in a dream?
Many things came in dreams, she had noticed. Lately she had dreamt of a great rock structure. It jutted out and, on occasion, she saw an impressive tawny lion standing at the tip, a creamier lioness at his side. They did not resemble anyone she had ever met.
She might've dismissed it as a mere fantasy, something her own mind had created, but other dreams had proven to be real. They were usually small things, a meal she would eat later that day or a lion she might spend time with. Mimea couldn't help but feel that somewhere, that big rock existed.
And she had found it!
Mimea knew nothing of the Pridelands, but it was obvious that a pride lived on that great rock from her dreams. She had prowled around a bit, listening in on conversations, watching the pride lions. Then she had come across the blue lion. She watched as he exited the den, and as he sighed, and as he lamented.
What a drama king. Then again, Mimea was a bit of a drama queen herself.
Jasiri looked over his shoulder, and realized that he was being watched by an interesting female. Great, now he could have a spectator to his wonderful performance today. Casually he stood up, and walked over to the female. She was foreign, and that was for sure. He'd grown up in the Pridelands, and if she did as well, then he would recognize her.
"Hello there... Might I be the lucky one to welcome you to the Pridelands? Don't get me wrong, it's a big place here, but I've never seen you before. Trust me, I usually know what's going on, because let's face it... I'm a big deal."
Jasiri smiled pompously as he looked her over once again. It almost hurt him to be so modest about himself. Her coloring was interesting, a deep red with a bit of a darker color. It was different from the bright blue that Jasiri had. "So... what brings you here? Curiosity? Or are you hiding something? Are you a runaway criminal?"
"A big deal?"
She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I doubt you were raised by the queen of your pride. I'm not a runaway criminal, I'm out on my naming quest." Mimea said it as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You're an adolescent, right? Are you on yours? Have you figured out your new name yet?"
With a grunt, she added, "I have no idea what to do."
For a moment Jasiri looked at her blankly as if she were stupid. "Yes, a big deal." He chuckled, trying to sway the topic to something else. "Wait, so what? Just because I wasn't raised by a queen doesn't mean I'm not important in my own right." He thought back to the days when he was just learning about the royal family, and how jealous he was when he found out that he was not a part of it.
"Well, I'm glad you're not a criminal. If you were, well, I'd have to stop talking to you. Because you see, it just isn't good for the reputation to be seen with one. Y'know?" Now feeling slightly more comfortable around the female, he stood up and walked closer to her. He paused to think about what a naming quest might be.
"A naming quest? What is that?" He turned his head to the side and rested his paw against his chin inquisitively. "I'm certainly not on mine, but I did help my father in choosing my name. You see, I'm one out of eight cubs, and halfway through birth my mother got tired of naming us. So for a little while I was stuck with the name, Seven." He shrugged, and rolled onto the ground into a more comfortable position.
"So, have you been living this long without a name?"
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Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 9:57 pm
Mimea wasn't sure she liked this blue lion. He was awfully full of himself, and while she could certainly show off her own ego, she wasn't crazy about seeing others'.
"Your own right, sure," she said, rolling her eyes again. "I'm sure you're very important. I would assume you have to hunt for the pride, then? I guess someone has to do it..."
She looked surprised at the fact he didn't know what a naming quest was. Didn't everyone have them? It was such an obvious part of her life that she couldn't even comprehend not experiencing it. "What, really? A naming quest is where you go out and try to learn your real name, your adult name. Back home, the cubs are given simple names. Mine is Mimea. When they come of age, they get sent out to discover their true name."
She eyed him warily. "You really don't have naming quests?" She was suspicious, and did not like being lied to.
Jasiri sighed for a moment, and wondered if he should back off the whole confidence thing for a moment. He decided it would probably be better if he did, since the foreigner really didn't understand him that well. Although it was somewhat mutual. He'd never heard of such of a thing as a naming quest.
"Uhh... whatever." He stood up, now slightly interested in the customs that went with this other pride. The fact that other prides might have customs different than his own was new to him. For the longest time he always thought that prides were much like his own, but just were in different locations. He wondered what went on at the other prides he had heard of now, because he wondered how the Pridelands, his home, stood among other prides. Were they feared, respected, or unknown?
"Tell me, Mimea, have you heard of my pride before meeting me? Do they talk about the Pridelanders back at your home?"
He paced around the lioness, inspecting her rusty pelt again. "I swear, I've never gone on any quests, let alone one to find my name. If you ask me it sounds a bit weird, but that's probably because I wasn't raised with the idea of one." He wondered what the real point of finding a name was, because a name was a name. So many other lions didn't really get to choose their name and did just fine. It was probably some spiritual thing about finding who you really are or something.
"Really, no naming quests. You can even ask my mom."
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Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:12 pm
Mimea quirked a brow at his 'whatever'. It didn't seem particularly polite to her, although again, the irony was lost on the lioness.
"In passing," she said, shrugging. "The Pridelands, you say? Yeah, I suppose I've heard the name once or twice. We don't really talk about you to any great extent, though. We don't talk much about any of the other prides. There's really no reason to, is there? Have you heard on the Jini-misemi? That's where I'm from. Since you don't know what a naming quest is -" it still amazed her, "- then you probably don't talk much about us, either."
What a strange world. "Alright, I guess I believe you. Do you do anything when you come of age?" It seemed rather boring to just continue life as is once you passed from cubhood to adulthood.
It pleased the now growing lion to hear that his pride was known outside of the lands he lived in. However, he would've appreciated a bit more elaboration. He figured someone that was quite content with their own pride wouldn't really be interested in another place, despite the fact that it might be much more fascinating place.
"I'm sorry, but no. I've never heard of your pride before. It does sound... intriguing though. The whole name hunt, and all." He laid down on the ground before them, and stretched out on his back. Like when he was a cub, he began to paw at the air, and he laughed playfully while doing so.
"I think I've assumed the role of a hunter for the pride now, but it's not a huge life-changing ordeal. My pride is so big that they don't really need to perform any ceremonies or quests. Each lion is a part of something bigger than themselves, and just by doing what the pride requires is fulfilling something great." Jasiri sighed after saying all that, because he felt like he actually said something not entirely centered around himself for once.
"Well, Mimea. Tell me this? Have you found anything yet on this naming quest? From what I understand it seems like they've figuratively blindfolded you in trying to find a name. Is it just supposed to find you? Or are you supposed to find it?" As he said this he rolled over onto his side becoming closer to Mimea.
"Hmm, I see. I suppose that makes sense."
It did, logically, but it was not something Mimea believed in. Ceremonies were a major part of her life, and the idea of not having them, of simply going on with everyday life after an event, was almost unsettling.
"We believe in spirits. Everything has a spirit; they are all around us. Our gods, like Mama Bwawa, command these spirits. It is she that is responsible for our lives as we know it in the swamps." There was affection and warmth in her voice. "Do the Pridelands have any gods?"
She frowned slightly at his question. "I'm not entirely sure. I seek the truth; I seek knowledge of who I really am. With that understanding comes my name." She shrugged, feeling somewhat awkward. "At least, I think that's how it works."
Jasiri let out another one of his sighs, and looked up into the sky. All of this serious discussion was too much for him in one conversation. Frankly, it was giving him a headache. He chuckled for a moment, and realized that his parents would probably be proud of his deep thinking for once. It was uncommon for him to sit down and have such a deep conversation with someone, let alone a stranger.
As if he was a cub rewarded for doing something right he smiled playfully. "Mimea... maybe you've done enough searching for a while. Maybe it just needs to find you." He looked over into her eyes and rested his paw on her chin gently. He broke his gaze with her to look up into the sky. "I think we've done enough discussing for today, so let's just enjoy this evening."
He didn't really understand what the strange feeling that developed in his stomach was, but at first he thought he might be sick. However, he soon realized that it was a good sort of tickle. "Have you ever looked at the sky? I mean really just look at it? It's so blue and amazing... kind of like me." All of it was so serious, and Jasiri couldn't help but to be himself and throw in a light joke.
She raised a brow, looking at him oddly. Perhaps she did need to let the name find her. She was eager to go back home, but not enough so to rush the process.
"I - well - yeah, I guess that's true," Mimea said, blinking at him. "Maybe that's the whole point of this thing. Leave it up to the spirits, or something." She shrugged, rolling her shoulders a bit. Somehow, this 'revelation' took a huge burden off of her. He was right, wasn't he? Sit back and enjoy the ride. It was unlikely that she'd leave the swamps after she returned, so she should enjoy the outside world while she could.
The lioness let out a small laugh. "No, not really. You are a very... er, impressive blue."
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