|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:05 pm
Koho felt so at home, being back in the pridelands, and with the old responsibilities back right where they belonged. Being a nanny seemed like an annoying job to many lionesses, especially those who preferred to hunt, but there was a very strong maternal instinct inside of Koho, so even if she didn't have cubs of her own anymore, she very much wanted to help take care of other lionesses, like when they went out hunting.
This just left one problem though, what's a nanny to do when she can't find any cubs? Koho had been mostly along all morning, at first justifying that she was stretching her legs, and then looking for a new home for herself if she ever wanted more privacy, but now, she only felt like she was wandering. Being a nanny wasn't much fun when there weren't cubs to watch, which seemed odd, but the pridelands was very large, and it was hard to find wayward cubs when they didn't want to be found by adults. She hadn't been able to find any of the other nannies yet, either, so she had no hope of asking them if they needed help. She really hadn't spoken to much of anyone besides her family. That being said, most of the pridelanders were her family in one way or another, but that was less relevant. The truth was, she was quite bored....
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:14 pm
"See you later, Stallion! If you ever do get that girl to play with ya, come get Taalis and Aeonus and Lo, I am sure they would want to meet our new friend too!" He shouted over the hilltop to the stripped equine who was galloping off with the zebra's infamous whinny. After just parting ways with his best friend, he was about to head off toward where mother may have been to continue their journey to wander about. The last time he had seen his father wasn't for a few moons and now they were just passing through. However, he already knew what was going to happen next and happily sat where he was, waiting for her to find him.
"First, she's gonna find me. Then, like always, she's going to ask what I'm doing out here by myself," To be honest, no one needed to be a seer to know that. Any cub left alone was going to be asked that then asked if their parents were around. It just amused him, trying to see if it actually played through. A part of him was curious if his beloved grandmother was gonna break the stereotypical questions. Eiji'dai purred softly as moved around, trying to recall where his guest would be coming from and strategically placed himself down, back to where she was expected to come from and looked out to the horizon.
"This is gonna be fun."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 6:16 pm
As Koho neared the smart little cub, her amber eyes fell on him, and her maternal instinct kicked in. The golden lioness smiled at the young cub, recognizing him immediately, "Eiji! What are you doing out here all by yourself?" Having no idea that her question had been anticipated, Koho went on smiling as she looked about the area, "Is your dad around here anywhere?" Her amber eyes scanned the horizon once more, but not seeing anything, she looked back to the cub.
She realized that he probably was alone, at least for the moment, so it would be best for her to stay with him. For one thing she had nothing better to do, so spending some time with her grandson sounded like a wonderful idea. Koho settled herself down into a sitting position, looking back out to the beautiful land that she lived in before a caring gaze back on Eiji.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 1:42 am
Eiji'dai happily smiled back at her, purring quietly. "My mom and I, with my brothers and sisters, are just passing through. We just wanted to see Dad before we left for our next location. I can take care of myself, for the most part. My Dad left with Aeonus and Taalis when I went to play with my friend, so they are probably back at the den," he explained himself, moving himself closer to her, rubbing himself against her playfully.
"What about you? Found anywhere yet or are you with Dad?" The cub asked curiously. Seeing as she was wandering around, she was probably looking for something, however, whatever it was, he didn't know. Though, he would like to find out.
"So what's it like being back home again? I mean... back in the Pride Lands."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 1:16 pm
Koho listened quietly as the cub explained. She had learned that, even when cubs were telling silly stories, it made the best impressions to listen closely and respond seriously. Not to mention that it brought her plenty of happiness to just listen to cubs' tales. This time, though, she believed Eiji, for one thing, he was very mature for his age. Nodding, a slight smile crept to her maw when he explained that he could take care of himself, but she didn't deny it. He had done a fine job so far after all.
The golden lioness lowered her head to Eiji as he rubbed against her, and she returned the affection, the pale markings under her eyes contacting the cub's strong back. "I was actually just looking for a den, since I don't want to crowd your father, or those at priderock for too much longer.... But it will be lonely living on my own, so I was thinking that perhaps I should find something very near to your father's, so that I can play with you cubs whenever you're in the pridelands." Koho's amber eyes danced with playful light, still having a rather cubbish streak herself when she let it show.
At the cub's next question, Koho's face became rather pensive, "You were right the first time, the Pride Lands is my home." She smiled briefly before continuing, "But without my own cubs here, I am a little lonely...." The other missing member of her family went unmentioned, but the Firekin Prince was always in the back of her mind.
"But, no matter, I have you little ones to keep me occupied. At least for a bit longer, where did you say you were going with your mother?" Koho recalled vaguely that Ezekial had said that the little cub's mother was a goddess, but Koho had never met any goddesses, so she was not very familiar with their habits.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 3:53 pm
Eiji'dai purred and promptly flopped onto his back, sprawling out beside her. With Koho here, he doesn't have to keep his guard up anymore. Afterall, one should never drop their guard or they will find out exactly what happens when they do! At least... that is one lesson he was taught when his father was teaching him how to hunt. However, that was the only lesson because it wasn't meant for him but for Taalis and the others, suppose he figured Rhin'yi taught her own cubs with her own techniques as the Goddess of Hunt.
"Well, there are lots around, just gotta know what you are looking for, I suppose. Maybe a big one or a small one, or a burrow, or a den! Maybe, if you're lucky, you can find a nice comfy spot under a tree like Mommy does when we can't find one," The cub giggled remembering the times where the family would find vacant places to spend the night and rest up before heading onward.
"Oh! Did Dad not tell you?" He frowned a little. "There are cubs here in the Pride Lands too, Taalis and them. Um... Oh! Safuma's litter. They stay here in the Pride Lands. I'm with Rhin'yi, she my mom you know. We travel lots but we come by sometimes so she can see Dad again and so he can see us." The hazel-eyed cub explained, basically blowing his father's two-female affair to his and his father's elder.
"Well, we were going thata way," He raised a paw and pointed in the general direction of west. "Well, I think it is that way. It is where the sun rises, that is where we are heading and then we will head back through here, I think. I forget. But we are going that way because that is where Mommy is," Eiji'dai giggled, rolling back onto his belly, looking up at his Great Great Grandmother.
Something ... Something felt different in the air and he couldn't put his paw on it, but it felt familiar ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 7:10 pm
Koho grinned and lifted a paw as the cub rolled to his back. The pale paw then flicked to tickle the little one's tummy. Her eyes continually flicked around to the horizon before focusing on the cub again, making sure that everything stayed safe. She would defend any cub when necessary, but she wasn't confident in her ability to win against any lion strong enough to attack. At his mention of burrows, Koho lowered her paw, to be more serious about the discussion, at least as serious as she got around cubs, since young ones always put a smile on Koho's face.
"Yes, I suppose so. I guess I don't really know what I'm looking for then...." Despite how much Koho tried to settle back into her home, it didn't seem to fit quite right. If she actually thought about it, she would realize that she had never been this independent in the Pride Lands before. She had slept in the royal cave, with her brother and Sarabi, taking care of their cubs before she had her own, and then she had always been with Mwali, and then their cubs. In the Rogue Lands, it had been about survival, and she had never stayed in a burrow or den permanently. But now, it was, in theory, both a permanent, and independent choice to be made by the golden lioness. It wasn't that she hadn't been independent before, but she had always lived with someone. There had always been another lion in her life to consider. It felt so lonely now.
Koho knew that her descendants were happy to have her back, and would welcome her into their lives, but that was just it. They already had lives, and families, that didn't involve her, so she still felt strangely outside, even when she was surrounded by family. She needed her own life, but.... That just started over with the problem of being lonely again....
Eiji's comment about his father pulled the grandmother out of her thoughts. Smiling once more, it didn't seem to quite reach her eyes this time, but she tried to keep up appearances for the cub's sake, not realizing he knew more than she had ever said. "I knew that there were cubs around, there are just enough nannies to take care of them without me...." She trailed off though, as the cub revealed both his parentage and the parentage of Taalis. She put it together in her mind easily, since Eiji had basically explained it perfectly. She made no comment though, not wanting to point out to the cub that it was a bit of a strange situation. Having a goddess for a mother would be odd enough for the cub.... The cub further amused Koho with his explanation of which direction he was going, and she made a note to herself to stay with him until his mother showed up, to make sure that he went the right way after all.
As he rolled back to his stomach, he seemed expectant, so Koho maintained her attentive silence, her eyes on the cub.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 7:34 pm
Eiji'dai stared out into the distance silently. Without warning, he jumped to his feet and turned in various directions, spending a few moments staring out into the open savanna. His mind roared, bellowed, cried, growled, snarled, and spoke in such a gruff voice that he has never heard before but it got stronger each time he moved to a certain direction. Eventually, he stopped, staring out into the savanna to the east, the opposite direction of where he was heading. The cub's breathing became deeper as he sat himself down.
"I know what you are looking for now, Grandma Koho," The cub spoke, panting softly as he looked up at with a smile. She may not have know about it but he knew what she was looking for. Though she may not know what exactly who or what she was looking for, he had figured it out... well, sort of. It was a who. At least he was assuming it is what she was trying to find.
"What you are looking for... is out there," He added, motioning in the direction he faced. "You will find him there."
...In the Firekin Lands...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 8:52 pm
Koho had expected some interesting comment from the cub, he was a strangely interesting cub after all. But when he jumped up and starting spinning around, Koho stepped back, watching silently, a concerned look on her face. She didn't know he was a seer, she hadn't thought about it really, and she didn't know what his process of seeing looked like. He didn't seem to be in pain, and with any other cub, she would have thought it was just a strange game, but not with Eiji. When he stopped, Koho stood expectantly, waiting for an explanation.
Her face was filled with curiosity, and when he started his speech, her brow furrowed in confusion. At first she didn't know what he was talking about, not realizing that he had a way of knowing she had been thinking about her mate. As she looked in the direction that he pointed, towards the desert sands that had swallowed so many of those she loved. Lands that she would have considered cursed, if she even understood that concept. When Eiji said 'him', there was no doubt in Koho's mind who he was talking about. Her eyes were wide when she returned them to the cub, no tears yet, but they were hiding, her eyes looking overly wet. She still didn't understand what was going on though, even though her emotions were responding to the cubs, "H-how do you know that... little one?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 10:42 pm
"Be warned, M'lady, he is not the same as you think. Time's progress has taken its affect upon his heart, his mind, and his soul. You will find him where those most cruel live, he is now one of them. The sands are stained and will swallow you if you tread carelessly. If you wish to press your chances with this path you now have, you may find the one who you seek," Eiji'dai spoke sternly, seriously, pressing upon her to know the risks involved and what has happened. Though it seemed as if it wasn't even he who was speaking. His eyes seemed to turn in color, the golden ring that surrounded his pupil shifted and twisted silently as he continued to look toward the desert sands.
A soft breath broke the seriousness.
"I-I dunno. I-It just happens sometimes. I don't get it. I don't know who 'he' is or where he is. But if you go that way, I think you'll find him. How long it will take, I don't know... Grandma Koho, are you sure you want to go that way? Y-you just got back and my Dad likes you here. A-and my Grandpa hasn't met you yet... but... If you go, you know Dad will support you," he seemed sad at the possibility that she may disappear after having just met her, in fact, the first time anyone in the family has met her. It was sad, but this was her life and it was her choice.
Eiji'dai nodded and stood boldly before her. "If you do decide to go, I shall tell my father promptly so he is not unaware-"
He seemed to still as he looked at her as his eyes began their golden dance.
"If you try to find this one, you will not find him. However, if you continue to find him, this one may join you in your search for your desire..."
Shaking his head, he rubbed it, padded it as if he had swimmer's ear. "I HATE THAT!!!!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:50 am
Just as Koho thought that it couldn't get any stranger, Eiji started in on another round of fortune telling. Since there was no doubt to Koho who "he" was, it was easy for her to follow the speech, but the information concerned her. She hadn't seen Mwali in many, many moons, and she had heard things that had made her heart want to stop beating. But the possibility of seeing him again, this brought so much hope back to her, she couldn't ignore the longing in the back of her mind. Something just wouldn't leave her alone, some hope that he still loved. No, it wasn't hope, it was simply knowledge.... Her rational mind tossed it off as self-deception, but she caught herself many times thinking about it....
As Eiji's voice changed back to one of a cub, Koho focused her amber eyes back on his. The cub's sadness was not lost on the nanny and she lowered her head to his, to reassure him, "I know who it is you speak of, but I wouldn't worry about it. I may, someday, try to find him, but for now, I am here." Rubbing her chin against the top of Eiji's head, she continued, "Shhh, little one, there is no reason to worry. No need to tell your father anything, for there is nothing to tell." It was easier to hide her worry from the cub in this position, since her eyes were not in his sight, and she kept her head low for a few moments until she felt her expression wouldn't give her away any longer.
And as her clear eyes settled on Eiji again, another warning, and this time, it confused Koho. She had a sense that this time, Eiji was telling about a different lion, but who, she was not sure at all. Then the cub broke back to his customary attitude again and Koho couldn't help but laugh. She reached a paw and touched his, trying to stop his movement, "It is a gift, to know things that you have not seen, and it may save a life, so do not wish it away, you would miss it...." The elder nodded solemnly, wanting the cub to be happy with himself, just the way he was.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:16 am
Eiji'dai purred with a smile, shaking his head. "I do not want to wish it away and I am fully aware of it, Dad tried to explain it. Well, sort of. I just don't like how it happens," He chuckled as he rubbed up against his elder. It was nice to have her here still if what she said was true. That would mean that he was able to see her again if the passed through here again, and what more, he would be happy to know that he helped her somehow. "Saving a life is kinda hard to do with this sort of power, but maybe one day! I'll save lions just like Dad!"
In the back of his mind, he was slowly preparing himself for the day that she would not be around when he came to visit the Pride Lands with his family again. It would be saddening but he would have to support her, after all, what can he do about it? He cannot beg her to stay and not look for this lion. Also, what about this other lion? It was all so confusing and it was best not to think about it at the moment, and just hope for the best when the time does come for when she leaves.
"Oh! I think Taalis wanted to play with you some more. Um... if you're lucky, you'll be able to meet Aeonus and Lo Gosh too," The seer smiled and nuzzled her leg softly. "But I have to go, my Mom will worry about me otherwise." Eiji'dai nuzzled her with his body, licked her quickly, bowed, and turned to leave.
"Um, it is not much, but maybe I can see you again before you do go?"
(( You can finish it off with him leaving if you like :3 ))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 1:22 pm
((sounds good, he's so cute!))
Koho nodded, pleased that the young one didn't regret his ability. Smiling, she returned the affection. "You never know, knowing things that are happening other places means that you could know if someone was hurt or in trouble!" Laughing, Koho agreed, "You could save a lion! Just like your dad...."
She wasn't sure why the little one had assumed she would run out of the pridelands again. It made her wonder if he knew something she didn't, or if his power had subtleties that neither of them understood. Either way, her paws seemed to start itching to travel again. But she had made a commitment here, and she still hadn't heard a word about the cubs she had left behind in the pridelands. If she was going to find more of her immediate family, it would be here.
At the mention of her other grandchildren, Koho nodded, only recognizing one of the names though.... "Well, we don't want your mother worried! You run along, I'll keep my eyes open for your sister." She smiled, nodding to the little one, "Count on it Eiji! I wouldn't miss it for a herd of antelope!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
