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 Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:05 am
Daybreak.
The start of something new.
The end of something precious.
Ripuka had left the golden cub waiting for her at the entrance of the den and had returned to stir her mate, Makaa. She had to be careful not to wake the other children. Yes, she'd tell them the truth - but not now. It was best not to make things difficult for her youngest son.
Besides, it was good to do this properly. When she got back she'd gather them all up and with Makaa, she'd tell them what had to be done was for the best. She wouldn't lie to them again. She'd made a promise to Wakia.
She moved into the gloom of the den and nuzzled up against Makaa's cheek. "Makaa, my love, it is time."
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Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:11 am
Any lion appreciated sleep, especially when they got older. This was a lion no different, but he still woke for his mate's urgings. Opening one green eye, he peeked at Ripuka. "Morning already...?" He yawned, stretching out. Looking at the sleeping cubs, he smiled. So many perfect little Firekin... But the other one... He carefully got up, making sure not to disturb any of the cubs.
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Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:15 am
"It is. Oh, love, I have waited eagerly for this day and yet...at the same time I have dreaded it. He can't stay here, I know that...but...I..." She turned away, ashamed. Tears misted her eyes.
"I love him."
She drew in a strengthening breath and turned back towards the entrance. "He waits outside. I told him you wanted to say goodbye...I have explained as best as I can..." And with that she made a slow ascent.
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Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:18 am
He nodded, following her. The cub.. The one he knew Ngoma and Rap called Runt... The cub made Makaa think of his uncle... Made him think of... Mufasa. But it was purely the coat. As he stepped into the pre-dawn air, he looked at the cub, taking a deep breath. It would be the first time they'd see the cub in the daylight.
Near by, ever watchful, Kimiko sat. She ignored most around her, though she'd paid some attention to the cub. After all, if she couldn't dote on her own... She'd dote on what cubs she could. She watched the two lions, fidgeting just a bit where she sat.
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Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:23 am
She moved aside to give Makaa and their nameless cub some time to talk. She had said all she had needed to say before she had woken her mate. Now it was their turn to say what was needed.
This was hard.
She sat tentatively on the sand and watched the expression of her son. So sad. So confused. Even though she had explained to him in as simple way as possible he still held that abandoned expression.
Her eyes lifted to catch sight of the slave. Oh, that's right, Makaa had wanted her to accompany her on this journey...to keep them safe in case a possible confrontation with the Simo erupted.
She knew that it wouldn't, but there was no changing Makaa's mind on the matter.
The golden cub whimpered and stood, taking a tentative step towards his father. He was so bright, just like mother. He was bright too, but he udnerstood that he was bright in a way that was unnacceptable.
"Dada." He squeaked, lifting his tear-filled gaze. "Don't...don't let mama take me 'way."
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Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:34 am
Looking down at his son, the orange lion had a pained expression. He leaned down, nuzzling the cub. "I'm sorry, son... She has to..." He sat down, pulling the cub close. "It's for your safety... For everybody's safety..." The better to hide his dark secret. "We'll see each other again, though... Someday.." He smiled, a genuine smile. Like some day, he'd get to meet his father...
He breathed a bit, eyes closing. After a moment, he looked back down. "I was once in a situation where I had to leave my family... About your age... Just a cub..." Green eyes turned to the distant horizon. "Back before the pride was split in two, in the days shadowed by a great sweeping plague that scattered most of us... I never got to meet my father... My mother had me while alone, very far from home..." It wasn't a happy story, but at least... Maybe... It'd make him feel better.
Even Kimiko had to look up, listening. She watched the lion, listening to his story. They had something in common, it seemed. Neither had ever met their father... But though she didn't know it, both had heard plenty about their respective fathers, little of it in good light. She'd certainly never heard anything good about hers, and in fact avoided some places while a rogue to avoid his taint. Maybe she'd visit some of these places, find her sisters, but... No, she was bound to these lands, to this family.
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Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:41 am
She didn't know how she held it together. But she did. Just. She listened to father and son and felt her heart begin to splinter. She pressed a paw over her chest in an effort to hold it in one piece.
But nothing seemed to help.
She lifted her head when Makaa spoke and looked at him carefully, quietly. She loved him desperately and found her throat clogged and thick. She could remember her parents, remember how she feared and revered them. Creatures powerful and loyal to Finar-Si. She knew they'd be disgusted to see her now, even when she'd done her best to live out their ideals.
She stood.
He listened to his father quietly. What a sad story. He wasn't sure how it made him feel, only lucky that he had known his parents. But he didn't want to say goodbye! He didn't want this to be the last time he ever saw his father.
He began to weep when his mother stood. "N-n-nooo." He tried to move in the sand but his little paws found it difficult.
"Dada! Dun wanna go."
Ripuka sent Makaa a silent look. In her face was pain and sadness but there was nothing she could say to make it better.
She moved towards her golden son, pausing one last time in case anything remained unsaid.
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Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:49 am
Hugging his son, he shed a tear. "I know, I know... But you will ALWAYS have family. You will ALWAYS have somebody to turn to, to find in a time of need." He rubbed his cheek to his son's, trying to not all-out weep. "Your mother, your brothers and sisters... You're all I have... My mother was taken by skinny hairless gorillas, my sisters... They're gone, long gone... You have brothers, and sisters..." So much more family than he'd probably ever know about.
Rising with her mistress, the slave felt herself choke just a bit. Here he had nobody but the family he'd made... She'd turned away the family she'd had already, as well as what she'd made. She looked away, for fear they'd see her crying, saddened by what she'd done to her life.
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Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:54 am
"Watch over the others until I get back, love. We'll tell them together." She stepped over the golden cub to nuzzle her orange, fiery mate. "I love you."
And when she pulled back she lost herself briefly in his eyes. Such green eyes. Beautiful eyes. A trait he had passed down to the very son she was taking away.
Then, silently she lifted the sobbing cub and carried him away, padding towards the slave who was waiting for her. She could not speak - for the cub dangled from her mouth - but she nodded and gestured for her to follow.
She did not look back - afraid she would not be able to carry out this horrible deed.
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Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 11:20 am
Nuzzling his mate, Makaa's ears folded back. "Be careful, Ripuka..." He paused, licking her forehead. "I love you, too..." But he hoped, to all hopes, that she'd not be killed. She was one of the few constants in his life, he'd rather not lose her. Watching her go, he felt the worry nagging at him. As he let out a sigh, the male turned and went back to the den, head down.
Lifting her head, the white lioness followed. She spared a look at the orange male, realizing... He looked worn, so very worn. But as he settled at the den's entrance, the look of wear and tear was gone, replaced by a fiery vigil. She looked back at the red lioness, keeping close. When she thought about it... Both looked worn, as if they'd seen a lifetime and a half. For a moment she wondered, would this cub see the same?
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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:51 am
She walked in silence for a while. Brooding.
This was going to be hard, as hard as it was the time she had let go of Azarax. She tried to comfort herself, telling herself that this wasn't like last time. She wasn't leaving her son to the slaves, she was taking him to be with his brother.
He'd still have family.
She'd tell him all about that on the way.
She was thinking about what she would say to her nameless cub the whole way to the border, and paused at its edge to linger there. Only then did she set down her weeping cub and turn her sharp gaze to look at the slave.
"Tell me, what is your name?"
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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:18 am
Stopping not far from the older lioness, she bowed her head, ears back just a bit. "My name is Kimiko, mistress.." She glanced at the cub, feeling a tugging at her heart. She'd never even named hers, before sending them away... Did they remember her, as this cub might surely remember his mother?
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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:21 am
She shook her head, looking angry for a moment. "None of that now. I am not your mistress." She looked hard at Kimiko. "You have a name, just as I do. I will use yours and you will use mine. Call me Ripuka, please, Kimiko."
She glanced down at the golden cub who had crawled slowly up to press against her belly. His golden fur piercing against her own.
"Why, Kimiko, are you inferior to me?"
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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:30 am
"Yes, mis-- Ripuka..." It would take her a while to break that habit.. She shifted, tail curling around her body. As the sun rose on her back, it made a few of the scars shine, just a bit.
The white lioness tilted her head, thinking about that. "I am inferior... Because I am not of the Blood..." She paused, ears folding back and gaze turning down. "And... Because... My father's reputation follows me, in my mind..." Someday, she'd let go of the delusion that everybody thought of her in terms of 'one of HIS daughters.'
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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:37 am
Ripuka curled her lip. This poor creature. They'd really gotten too her. But not just them. Her father too? She thought of her parents then - dead to all but her, for they lived on in her memories.
"You are not your father." She replied seriously. "Just as I am not my parents. I was, once, but not anymore." She looked down at her son. "Just as he will not grow to become like me. And I am thankful for it." She snarled.
"Kimiko, the difference between you and I is colour and colour alone. If you were of The Blood you'd still be looked down at for your pelt. Just as Uddhava - a cub of The Blood - would be taken to the slaves for his pelt. Firekin are vain. They have always been vain."
She stood and her cub toppled backwards in the sand.
"You are no different from us." She hissed. "You are not a slave to anyone but yourself. To your mind."
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