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 Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 3:29 am
 Mzimu sat staring out at the sea, his blind eyes fixed on nothing in particular. Today was the day he had been waiting for, the day that he finally had enough courage to make the trip back to the lands of his birth. It was a trip he had been wanting to take for a very long time, but his disability had always held him back. He wasn't getting any younger though, so really it was a matter of now or never.
"I'm going to miss the ocean so much." The old lion said with a sigh, before turning to where his travelling companion was sat. "The Ela'wadiyi lands are nowhere near the coast." Zizima was also staring out at the sea, until Mzimu spoke to him. "I've told you, we'll come and visit. It's not like you'll never hear from us again. We'll be able to bring you back now and again." The large grey lion's words seemed rather harsh, but they were simply masking his true feelings about today.
Although he would never admit it, Zizima had become rather fond of the old lion, and it would be hard to see him go. At least Mzimu had asked for him to come with him, at least until they reached the Ela'wadiyi lands.
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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 10:43 am
]Whilst Isilahi had known that the old boy would love to see his homelands again, she never once imagined that he would actually go through it. For one, the three of them seemed to have known each other long enough now to be a family almost. She couldn't bear thinking about being without Mzimu.
So when she approached her two favourite boys, she was oblivious to the mood.
"I've been looking for you two," she said cheerfully, with just a hint of 'mum chastising.'
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Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 4:34 am
Mzimu smiled widely as the sound of Isilahi's voice reached his ears. He was going to miss her so much. She was like a daughter to him now, and she had been more help to him than she would ever know. "Come here my dear." He called out, motioning with a small wave of his paw for her to come and join them. He was unsure how she was going to react when he told her that today was the day, so now a look of concern graced his face.
Although Zizima didn't smile on the outside when Isilahi arrived, he smiled on the inside. He was sure that her cheerful disposition would lighten the mood, even if it was only temporary. He too was worried how she would react to Mzimu's leaving, and the fact that he himself would be gone for a fairly long time as well. After they had all met each other, they hadn't really spent much time apart.
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Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 2:38 pm
"Seems to be a gathering of water-watchers," she laughed softly. "Is the big-water really that interesting today?"
She gave Zizima a little nudge as she passed him and then leaned into Mzimu as she sat down beside him, like he was an unmoving but somehow comforting rock, providing support in times of need.
She should have sensed the sombre atmosphere really, the slightly charged tension that arrives before an emotional storm. But she had found a little piece of happiness after a long time alone and she wanted to grasp onto it for as long as possible.
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Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 3:53 am
Mzimu smiled as he felt Isilahi lean into him. How was he ever going to tell her what they were planning on doing? He moved so as to allow her to rest her head on his shoulder if she wished, and then continued to stare blankly at the sea.
"My dear Isilahi." He started. "Meeting you has been a great privilege. I lived in darkness for such a long time, and you have undoubtedly been the light. I'll be forever grateful for the things you've taught me..." He grinned. "Such as making fun of ol' Grumpy over there."
Zizima nudged back as the teal female nudged him. He then watched as she sat by Mzimu on the opposite side. He planned on keeping a careful eye on her, as he was sure that he would have to comfort her once Mzimu had given the bad news.
At being called Grumpy, Zizima simply rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Whatever." He replied, seemingly failing to see the funny side. He wished that Mzimu would just spit it out, but at the same time he knew that things would have to be explained delicately.
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 4:48 am
Uh-oh. It was never good if someone started with 'my dear.' It rang alarm bells inside her head, almost drowning out the rest he said. She caught enough to know that Zizima's name had been mentioned, and she looked at him. Already, her expression was slightly pained and confused.
"...you don't have to be grateful...and what do you mean 'has been?' I'm not going anywhere..." she spoke to him, voice a little creaky, a little raspy.
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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 12:37 am
Mzimu sighed solemnly. This was going to be harder than he had first thought. "It's not you who's going anywhere my dear...it's me." He lowered his head. "I don't know how much time I've got left...but before I go, I wish to return to my home lands." After saying that, he quickly raised his head and looked at Isilahi. "Don't get me wrong, the time I've spent here with you and Zizima has been the best time in my whole entire life. I just feel that if I am to make this journey, I need to do it now."
The old lion then motioned towards Zizima. "Zizima is going to guide me there."
Zizima didn't know quite what to do at first. It was clear that Isilahi was already distressed, and he hadn't even told her the bad news yet. When he had done, he waited for a moment to see how Isilahi would react, but then decided to take action instead. He got up from where he was sat and moved to sit beside Isilahi. He nuzzled her gently, trying to reassure her. "I promise that he will get there safely, no matter what."
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:13 am
It was obvious she was trying to understand, and if anything, she understood too well. She was the empathetic sort, a good listener, the peace-keeper she was named as. But for those same reasons, she took a lot of it to heart when she shouldn't. Finding these two had been like finding a home away from home. And if they were both going...then what did that mean for her home? Would she have to try to return to her birthplace, face her demons, alone?
All this was whirring away at a mile a minute in her head, but didn't show on her face. Or at least she tried to keep it hidden from her face with a look of concentration and thought. But her eyes always told more than words could. Even the show of affection from Zizima couldn't break through that fuzzy black cloud around her mind.
"So...is this it...is this the last I will ever see of you...? Both of you...?" she stuttered a little, struggling with the meaning of the questions and the possibility of the answers.
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:49 am
Mzimu didn't know what to say. He probably didn't have all that long left, so this most likely really was the last time that Isilahi would see him. Did he really want to tell her that though? No, he didn't. "Of course not! You can come and visit me anytime you like. It's not like Zizima here couldn't do with the exercise." He said with a chuckle, attempting to make light of the situation.
"Zizima will be coming back to you as soon as he's guided me to the Ela'wadiyi lands. I doubt he'll admit it, but I'm sure that you're the best thing that's happened to him in his life, so there's no way he would be foolish enough to let you go."
Zizima was less than impressed by Mzimu's little joke, even going so far as to breifly look down at his stomach. Exercise, yeah right. He knew what Mzimu was trying to do though, and so he couldn't get angry at him.
The large grey lion moved again, this time to sit directly in front of Isilahi. He then raised a paw and gently placed it under her chin in order to lift her head. He then breifly glanced at Mzimu. "He's right you know...you really are the best thing to ever happen to me." His tone of voice seemed to soften ever so slightly. "I'll be coming back to you."
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Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 10:49 am
Isilahi appeared to shrink against the two males, her emotional state struggling to keep bright and bubbly. The immediacy of it all felt so scary, so daunting - what if something happened in the mean time? What if Mzimu and Zizima got lost, or got hurt? What if something happened to herself whilst they were gone? She knew deep down that the waiting part, waiting for Zizima to return, was not all that problematic. She'd already spent a good deal of her time alone.
She tried to smile at the joke about Zizima's fitness, but it was forced. When her eyes met Zizima's, it was like looking in to doll's eyes, endless voids of black. She was speechless for a while, but if Zizima had any sense about him, he could read her from her eyes alone.
"Okay," she said, barely a whisper but already the tone was brighter, firmer. "When will...you be going...?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 1:34 am
When Isilahi asked when they would be leaving, Mzimu considered his answer carefully. They had been planning on leaving that day, as the sooner they left, the sooner Zizima could head back to Isilahi. He now thought better of it though, as he felt that the sea-green female deserved some time to come to terms with him leaving.
"...Tomorrow. We will be leaving first thing tomorrow." He smiled gently. "Until then, we can do whatever you like. We could go for a walk, or..." He trailed off, as it occured to him that there wasn't much else that the three did together other than walk and talk. "I can't think of anything better than a walk by the sea with my two most loyal and wonderful companions."
Zizima could feel Isilahi's pain just by looking at her. Maybe he could get Mzimu to reconsider the whole thing. That wouldn't be at all fair to the old lion though, and so Zizima pushed that thought away swiftly. "Isilahi..."
Mzimu then cut in, causing Zizima to look at him, a small smile touching his maw. They would be leaving tomorrow instead. He then turned back to the love of his life and nuzzled her gently. The grey half-Firekin wasn't great with words as it was, so he hoped that Isilahi could sense his support for her.
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Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 3:52 pm
Isilahi smiled at the elder, and perhaps for the first time this evening, it was genuine.
"Me neither. A walk sounds like a great idea," she said in reply to the both of them, catching sight of Zizima's expression as he was cut short.
As she was already stood, she made the first whisper of a movement to start walking, leaning into Zizima as approached him. For his lack of communication skills, Isilahi seemed to match. She was very good at finding a voice for others, but very rarely for herself.
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Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 1:54 am
"Lets be off then." He slowly got to his feet and stood up straight. Considering his age, it was a miracle that he was still as fit as he was. The journey to his homelands would be long and tough, but he was sure he would be able to make it.
Zizima nuzzled gently back into Isilahi when she came to him, before the three of them all started walking together. He was going to miss her, but he would do his very best to return to her as soon as was possible.
As he walked, Mzimu thought about Zizima and Isilahi. They were such a lovely couple, each one complimenting the other in personality. It saddened him that he wouldn't see them again for a long time, perhaps even forever. If they decided to raise a family, he would not be a part of it.
Their walk eventually brought them back to the cave that they shared. Mzimu once again turned to Isilahi, his eyes wishing that they were able to actually see her. "You'll be fine my dear. You and Zizima will be absolutely fine together." With that, he went into the den. They still had the whole day ahead of them, but for now, the old lion just needed a quiet moment alone.
Zizima could see that Mzimu was deep in thought as they walked. Maybe he should ask him to change his mind? No, that wouldn't be fair to him at all, so he chose to remain silent.
When they arrived at the den, Zizima nodded firmly at Mzimu's words, before he disappeared into the darkness of the cave. The grey lion then turned to Isilahi. "He's right you know, we're going to be fine."
(( Finished! ))
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