|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:46 pm
Dié hated being away from home, but she understood her Lady's wishes. Their home was dangerously small, and to protect the western boarders of the empire, they needed to strengthen their numbers more than just the couple that they were. Upon the request of the Lady Rén, Dié found herself wandering through the rogue lands, looking to rope any that she could into returning with her. Dié's tactics were certainly much different than Tishtar's. She would make them come home. It was for the good of the pride. Besides, who wouldn't want to live there, anyway?
Her paws carried her to a land outside of a lush pride. There must be some lions here that wanted a new life. Now she would just have to wait, and watch.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:52 pm
 He was more determined now than ever to make something of his practice. Having crossed paths with an older lion he'd found himself encouraged that he was doing something right with all of this hiding in the tall grass, remaining still and waiting stuff. His tail ticked back and forth, the pink tip twitching as he waited... And waited...
"Aha!" He pounced as he saw movement, thinking twice only after he'd sprung from his hiding place that maybe, just maybe, he should have looked to see what it was that he'd been pouncing at. Foresight certainly wasn't his forte.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:06 pm
As she was about to call out to him, she saw him motion to leap at something. Well, obviously the bugger was teaching himself to hunt! With a smirk, she slowly let the space between them shrink, her pace slow and lazy. It wasn't like he was going anywhere.
----
Dié's ears caught the sound of something approaching. Her eyes only saw a lone lioness coming in her general direction, nothing more. Pleased that perhaps she could get this hunt over with and return home, she herself was getting ready to speak when the sudden sound of grass behind her startled her from her placid state.
"Hey, what!" Her tail thankfully was safe, but only an inch or two more and she would certainly be missing a chunk of it, if not just fluff. A little (well, sorta) pink and black lion was obviously intent on trying to eat her for dinner.
"Not so fast there, kid," she said with a snarl. "I'd like to keep my fur on my back and not in your tummy." So much for being placid!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:12 pm
"Ooof." He landed on his face with his paws sprawled out in front of him, having missed his target as it seemed to have been paying much more attention to things than he had been. His nose wrinkled lightly as he huffed, so close to pouting until he heard the snarled words. "Uh oh..." He scrambled back, quickly trying to turn about so that he was facing whatever it was that he'd not-quite-pounced.
"Uh... M'sorry. I wasn't trying to eat your fur. I was just..." He was searching for words now, blue eyes wide with panic before it turned into curiosity as he shifted from cowering to peering. "... What're you? You don't look like a hyena..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:22 pm
Akasha heard the snarl. Concerned, she extended her limbs into a trot, quickly reaching her son's side. With a snort she saw just what he was playing with. Well! No wonder! Obvoiusly he was being a little ambitious and starting out with something that could bite him back. Only a child of her's would do that.
"Ahhh, a maned wolf," the lioness stated, clarifying her son's initial confusion. "Haven't seen one around in a while, especially these parts. Still, that doesn't mean you can just snap my son's head off with choice words." She roleld her shoulders back. "That's what I'm for."
Akasha still didn't understand what being a mother should be, nor would she probably, ever.
---
Dié's pale eyes noticed that the lioness she saw earlier had rushed upon the scene. Not quite in her favor, but at least she wasn't being ripped into. Her head dipped just under the lioness' shoulder, thought the muscle mass certainly made up for that.
"I'm much more refined than a whole pack of hyenas," the maned wolf stated with a growl. She was obviously insulted at the question, though she could see where a kid could be confused on the matter.
"Why would you pounce on me anyway if you had no intent to eat? I don't understand lion kids, and I never will," she said, grumbling the last of it under her breath.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:40 pm
"Well, I..." His brow furrowed as he heard in his head what the next words to come out of his mouth would have been. I wasn't really paying much attention to what I was pouncing. No, saying something like that really wouldn't do much to get him out of this current situation.
Instead he shied back towards his mother, glancing up at her for a moment before looking over at the maned wolf once more. "I said I was sorry..." He muttered, eventually glancing down.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:51 pm
Akasha gave a soft headbutt to her son. "Aaah, don't worry about it Mbali. You're fine, she's fine. She's obviously just not having a very good day, and your hunting skills aren't something she wants to entertain right now."
That was probably the best way that Kashi was going to praise her son. It was true, he didn't do too much wrong. Just a little harmless pounce. He just needed ti start pouncing on things that wouldn't bite him back. Though he was initially unwanted, Kashi had come to be a little attached to him.
--
Dié would never understand lions. Her own Lord and Lady would bicker, and it seemed that she wouldn't even get the chance to explain herself. She fell silent, letting the pair speak to one another as she crafted a plan within her mind.
"I'm sure you can make it up to me," she said softly. "Why don't I apologize for my outburst by showing you my home? It's quite a trek, but I'm sure that you'll like it." If not you'll just have to find your way back home by yourself, she thought. She was more like her lord than she realized.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 2:04 pm
He resisted the urge to huff again, shifting slightly on his paws instead at the thought of getting out to see new places. Pembe had mentioned meeting new people and making new friends through traveling... Maybe this would be his chance? Well, their chance, since this invitation was obviously directed to his mother as well.
Eyes wide he glanced up. "Can we, mom? Can we?" His excitement at the prospect of an adventure was nearly tangible in the air around him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 2:21 pm
Kashi was a little surprised at this invitation. Who would do something like that? She eyed the maned wolf suspiciously, but it didn't seem like there was anything menacing behind it. It was just....odd.
"Perhaps, Mbali. First..." She took one protective step in front of her son, eyeing the maned wolf. "Give me a name, and where you're taking us, first. I'd rather know than follow a stranger blindly." She knew of prides that were not welcoming of strangers, and wanted to make sure that she didn't name one of the prides that she knew about. If it was an unknown one, well....they might have to take their chances. She had a hunch that her son would take off without her.
--
Dié lowered he head for a moment in a polite bow. At least she was getting somewhere, and they themselves would learn all the proper things in life soon.
"Yes, certainly. It's far to the north, so it may take a couple days to reach. I can fill you in with more details then, but my home is Tianxia. We are a pride consisted of five houses. I reside in the west house, where my Lord and Lady would be pleased to greet you."
Hopefully the mysterious details would entice the young one more. And with that, the mother would certainly follow along. "We are in need of strength, and I'm sure that the pair of you could offer that." Stroke a little bit of ego, aaaand then they should be ensnared.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 2:28 pm
When his mother stepped up in front of him he found himself stepping back so that he could let her do her thing, which always seemed to be the best thing to do when it came to moms. He peered around her though, still watching the maned wolf while listening with interest. Lord and Lady... What kind of place had things like that?
"Well... Mom could. She's really strong... And smart and brave and..." He could probably go on with a litany of other things that he was certain somehow suited his mother. "I'm still learning... But I learn quick!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 2:37 pm
The slight ego stroking had worked. Akasha could slowly feel herself accepting this strange but interesting idea. And if Mbali was in it, well....that meant that leaving would be easier. As long as she had her son she would be all right. Little brat, she was horribly attached to him.
She settled herself back at his side, her paws nestled into the grasses of the lands. "Well, I'm sure that it won't be too bad, I guess. We can always check it out." She nudged Mbali. "Besides, you seem all excited, and I gotta keep an eye on you!"
--
Dié grinned, but she kept her head low to let it fade into a smile. Perfect. As soon as she could get home, she would be able to take it easy for a while. And with happier leaders? Even better.
"It's a long walk, I will warn the both of you. Two days at the soonest. When we get there, though, you'll certainly love it."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 2:47 pm
"It'll be an adventure!" He nodded, smiling brightly at his mother's decision, trying to keep most of his excitement energy bottled up for now. If the maned wolf was telling the truth they had a good bit of distance to cover and with legs as short as his (and as awkward when it came to his too-big paws) it would take all the energy he had to keep up. "I'll stay out of trouble, Mom, promise."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 3:07 pm
A sigh escaped from her chest. "Well, all right. As long as you don't get in trouble. As well as not complain about how long it's going to be." Oh, she could just imagine it! Hopefully the whining genes from her sibilings flew right over him. She didn't think she could put up with it if she turned out to be like Marty.
"Lead the way then. We will follow." And be careful, as well.
--
The maned wolf bowed again before turning to lead the way. Pleased with herself, she finally offered to speak her name. "Then Dié will lead the way. Follow close now, I want us to find ourselves home as soon as possible."
She flicked her tail and trotted off, peeking over her shoulder to make sure that the pair were following her. She was most excited to be returning home, especially with a pair following her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
