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 Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 10:46 am
The scent of hare tickled his nose, but it was far away from what he could tell. Kauli narrowed his eyes and frowned. It was the only prey he could smell right then, so he'd have to go after it. Kauli turned and began to follow the scent. But another scent caught his nose. It was a very odd, bad smell. Like sweat and water and something else Kauli wasn't quite sure of. Curiosity began to tug at Kauli's head and suddenly he found himself following the scent without really realizing it.
An hour passed and the scent was stronger than ever. A strange excitement pulsed inside Kauli at the discovery of something strange and new. But maybe he was getting too excited over nothing? A sigh escaped Kauli. There were other things more important than going on random escapades looking for the holders of strange smells. Perhaps he was just being childish?
But then he saw it.
Climbing over a large wall of rock and looking down the other side, Kauli saw a jaw-droppingly vast pool of water. "Pool" was an understatement, though. It was...It was enormous. Kauli stared, mouth agape, in complete awe of the sheer size of it. The salty smell was strong in his nose, but he found himself liking it. What a beautiful thing was right on front of him, miles and miles wide, seemingly endless...And there was a red blotch right in front of it...
...Red blotch? Kauli snapped out of his amazed state and examined the red thing in front of him. It was a lioness. Kauli remained still, wondering if it would be best to greet her or wait for her to greet him. Maybe he was trespassing in her territory...?
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Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 1:15 pm
 It had been a surprise, just a couple days of staying in one place then suddenly you turn around and see someone new. Her family had settled, she was getting used to being in one place again and had wondered closer to the roguelands in order to do her daily look into the lands. While they weren't exactly an official pride, they were one. Scent marking hadn't happened yet, something she'd take care of later, even if another member of the pride also did so. It wasn't to keep lions out, but it was a great way to make other aware they were there.
The white and green lion, well she liked him instantly. His expression to the ocean was charming. Smiling warmly, she approached him, keeping four feet of distance due to the rogueland inbred instinct. There was nothing wary of her, it was just a habit, her warm smile and eyes spoke tails of her nature. "Greetings, welcome to the Simbafutaji, friend." It was a name decided by the dark cub that the family group had stumbled upon. It meant the lions who seek, she liked it. They all sought something, she had looked for a home, her mate, and to help others. Kam had wanted the ocean, and a mate of her own. That would be what brought others for her to meet and befriend, seeking things of their own, bringing different knowledge.
Looking back to the mother ocean, she introduced her, for her voice was a low roar you have to learn to understand, "You are looking at the Ocean, it does go on forever. If it were drinkable water, no one would ever need to thirst, But she more than makes up for it with her other charms." It was a habit she had developed in the Bahari pride, to think of the ocean as a being, a female which was perhaps an unconscious sexism that she saw as logical. They worshiped the gods, and revered the Ocean, at least she did.
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Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 1:38 pm
Kauli jumped over the rock wall and landed in the moist sand below. His paws sank slightly under his weight and he was overwhelmed with new scents and feelings. It was so strange and inviting. It was beautiful and scary at the same time. He immediately thought of taking his mate and cubs there. It would be quite a journey for them, but it would be worth it. There might also be problems along the way, but...It would really be worth it in the end.
Kauli smiled and looked to the lioness, realizing that he had forgotten her for a moment. He was sometimes unsure when first meeting another, but her polite and calm demeanor was reassuring.
"Ocean?" Kauli echoed, testing the word on his tongue. The name seemed to fit. Oh, it wasn't drinkable? Kauli walked to the edge of the ocean and dipped his tongue in. He drew back with a start. It was HORRIBLY salty. He flashed an unsure smile at the lioness. "I guess life would be too easy if such a great amount of drinkable water existed." he remarked carefully. "So this..." he began, looking around. "This is your pride?" he asked.
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Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 1:55 pm
Polite and warm, it wouldn't be true to call her mean, but she had her near moment. Right after she had warned him, he went and tried to drink the water, there was no other response then to laugh. It wasn't a cruel laugh of malice, but a warm low laugh of pure amusement. Like a cub, tell them not to poke a crab, and they'll do it. It didn't make her look down on him; the incident was put away as soon as it was over.
The ocean wasn't the only water they had in the lands, and she tried to reassure him, "I suppose so, there is a nice amount available here though." It would be nice, no one would ever go thirsty, and so much could grow here and there seemed to be enough shoreline for everyone to live comfortably.
Her chest swelled a little with pride, this was her home and she was very proud of it. "Yes, this is my pride, we are small now but always open for wanders to stop and rest, or stay. My family is around here somewhere playing. The pride as a lot of space, lots of shore line to play in the waves. Where to you come from?" Gazing around, she didn't see the little cubs, or her sister, but she knew they were around. Likely, Kam was playing with them and her little daughter. She was curious about the stranger, wanting to learn more about him. Curiosity, not wariness, that spurred her question, he could say nothing and she wouldn’t think anything of it.
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Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 2:11 pm
Kauli instinctively looked around when the lioness mentioned her family. When he didn't see anyone, he looked back to the lioness.
"I come from..." Kauli began slowly, mind turning with thought. He didn't like thinking or talking about his past much; the life he had before he and his mate lived on their own with their cubs. Perhaps he wouldn't mention it... "I live a few miles from here," he said confidently after a moment. "With my mate and cubs." An odd twinkle lit his eyes and his eyes drifted to the ground. His mate and cubs...He was truly lucky to have them.
"What sort of pride is this, erm...?" Kauli narrowed his eyes in thought. He didn't even know her name.
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Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 2:33 pm
Looking back to the roguelands, she smiled warmly thinking of her own little cubs. "How many cubs do you have? I have six little cubs of my own, I am sure they would love to make new friends." Alright, her cubs were juveniles, but she was a mother, she could call them her little cubs even when they were adults with grown cubs of their own. Of course, she also greatly looked forward to meeting them and their mother as well.
Names were fleeting in the roguelands, it wasn't very likely you'd run into someone again after you parted paths. It appeared her old habits were surfacing again. With an apologetic smile, she answered him, "My name is Senatla, it is nice to meet you." With a sway of her tail, she moved on to answer his question, "This is a pride for wanders, a place for anyone who needs a home, or somewhere safe to be before moving on. We collect stories and travel ourselves, though there will always be lions here to great those that wander in." At least, it was an idea; she wouldn't be going for a little while longer. Even after her cubs were adolescents, she would stay. It would be after Thili found her again, that she would consider wandering for a while, maybe go off and meet leaders of prides to make friendships with them to ensure the rest of the pride that wandered would know where to go and where not to.
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Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 2:45 pm
Kauli grinned at the mention of cubs. New life...It was amazing to him. He adored his cubs, even if some of them had a few...Issues.
I am Kauli." he said. Name-exchanging felt awkward to him at times, but he found himself very relaxed beside the ocean. He was still so astounded by it. Every few moments he would look over at it. It? That sounded too harsh for the ocean. Maybe he would start calling it like Senatla did? "I have five cubs." Kauli said, eyes wandering away briefly as he thought of them. "Well, mine aren't really cubs anymore. They've grown a bit." he admitted with a hint of a smile, nodding slowly as if to convince himself that they were no longer cubs. Things grew and changed, time went on...Kauli sighed.
"Your pride sounds...Peaceful." He said softly. Yes, it sounded peaceful...Unlike other prides. But he didn't want to think of that.
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Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 2:59 pm
Five cubs, she had no idea how much some had..personality. Assuming they were all mild and warm like her own, she thought they could make great friends. "Mine are juveniles nearly adolescents, but they will always be little cubs to me." There was that smile, the ones the mothers have when thinking of their little cubs, she wore like there was no other kind.
Looking around, she agreed, "It is, away from the meanier closed minded prides. Here, like my own cubs, hybrids and everyone else is welcome and treated like family." Hyena she would have a huge problem with but it sounded off, 'we love everyone, by hyenas' so she didn't say it.
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Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:00 am
A heavy ocean breeze swept past the two lions and ruffled Kauli's mane. He gazed in the direction of the wind and found himself staring at the ocean once more. It seemed to suck him in...causing him to forget everything and everyone around him. Something in the sand and the breeze and the spray of water upon his fur was one of the best things he'd ever experienced.
"Yeah..." Kauli whispered suddenly in agreement with Sen. His cubs would always be cubs forever to him, too. "I will..." Kauli began, turning his attention back to the lioness. "...Bring my cubs and mate here one day." he said to her, a smile hinting at his features. If the lioness's pride accepted all, certainly it would be acceptable for him to return. Not to join, but...To experience the ocean again. For his family to experience it. He wanted them to.
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Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:35 am
She was patient, being a mother gave you a lot of practice; she knew the affects of the ocean. Watching him entranced by it was a wonderful sight; she only sat down to watch it in comfort.
Smiling back, delighted he would return with his family, she told him again, "You and your family are welcome here; it is nice thing to visit even if you don't want to stay. The dens are open to you as well, if it gets late and you wish to take shelter before traveling back." At the mention to the dens, she turned towards the large rocky cliff stories high, in the base were indents that led to cool sandy dens. Ones could be made in the treed area as well, but she preferred the cave herself.
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Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 5:30 pm
Kauli felt an odd feeling of relief inside of him at her words. He sat and stared around at the rocks Sen was looking at.
Knowing Kauli could go back, and with his family, made him happy. "Thank you." he said, gratitude reflecting in his voice and eyes. Prides were a touchy subject for him, and he knew they must be for Taka as well. But somehow, this pride...This pride felt different. It was peaceful. And surely nothing beside the ocean could be bad. So Kauli was relieved and excited to show his family.
He would see the ocean again and show his family...His cubs might take their minds off of each other and their parents for a while and be as enchanted by the ocean as he was himself.
His family...
...HIS FAMILY!
"Ah!" Kauli exclaimed, getting to his feet with a start. "I've--" he didn't want to say he had forgotten his family. "I must go." he said. He frowned in apology, feeling rude for having to leave so suddenly. But his family needed him. He had to continue hunt so they could have food.
That was the life of a father.
"Thank you...For everything." Kauli said, flashing a brief smile before turning away from Sen and beginning to climb up the rock wall. "I'll be back!" he called over his shoulder. Stealing one last glance back at the ocean, he disappeared over the top of the wall.
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Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:17 am
She loved this, how happy he was to be here and to know he'd be welcomed back. When they had decided how they were going to set up the pride, it was agreed that everyone would be welcomed whenever and for as long. This was a scene everyone should get the chance to enjoy the ocean, in a pride of peace and safety. Even hyenas, as much as she hated them, she would still allow them to answer, watching their every movement.
All of the sudden, the lion lept up like got pinched by a crab. Blinking she moved up a bit slower backing up slightly to look around for what had caused the sudden action. He had to go? Ear flickering, she puzzled over it a moment.
Well he was going, "Until we met again." Watching him go, she smiled to herself before turning and walking off to continue her prowling.
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