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 Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 2:35 pm
He was leaving. He was actually going to be leaving!
It had been a while since his meeting with Noki but it was as vivid as it had been from when he'd been speaking with her. He was eager to visit her homeland, eager to find his own place in the sun. As nice as the Pridelands were, they just weren't home anymore. It was his family's home, but not his.
He needed to break away. Make a new start and with Noki, that was possible. He wriggled with excitement as he lay sprawled on the floor, stretching out under the golden rays of the sun that tickled across his back.
"I feel...happy." He admitted quietly to himself.
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Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 2:46 pm
The lioness once known as Noki rushed around the Pridelands, her mind on one thing- finding Chunuka. She was happy, something she hadn't felt so genuinely in a long time. She had her family, her real father, a better mother-figure, so many siblings and she had her name. She was ready to return home, and for that she had to find Chunuka. So she kept her bright eyes open for any sign of the golden male, occasionally hesitating as she passed several other members of the pride. Gold was such a common color.
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Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 2:51 pm
A of pair of birds twittered as they danced overhead and Chunuka watched them twirlding midair. They seemed as if they were intent on bringing one another out of the sky, but, after a moment, Chunuka realised it was the courtship dance that proclaimed their love for one another. They would fly close, brushing their wings together, then flirtaciously part again - continuing their brilliant flight through the air.
Love.
It was a fickle thing. A thing that Chunuka didn't understand. A thing that Chunuka felt cheated of. His mother and father still had it - even after all these years. His sister had it. His brother had it. Yet it evaded him. Or it had seemed to, for Chunuka probably wouldn't even have recognised it if it had leapt on his nose and done a funny little jig.
In any case, he turned from the dancing birds just in time to see a figure approaching. A figure he knew well. His heart lifted, gave an odd little flip, and instantly he was on his paws.
"Looking for something?" He called, cheerfully. He certainly seemed a changed lion. The excitement of the journey had battered away at his misery until it was all but forgotten.
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Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 3:00 pm
Looking the wrong way at just the wrong time, the yellow lioness was startled when she heard someone calling out to her. She spun around, and as soon as she saw who it was, she was smiling.
"Oh! It's you!" she said, very clearly in a good mood, "Yes, I was- I mean!" She hesitated, though her smile didn't falter. She was very pleased with herself for all of this, and she didn't know the proper way to deal with it- just as she hadn't been sure how to take on the quest for a name. However much like cheating it seemed, she felt it had certainly worked out how it should. Wahabu was her real father, he symbolized the change in her life and perspective in many ways- it was only fitting that he had been asked to help.
"Ahem," she said, "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kimya'kizuka."
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Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 3:07 pm
He moved towards her with a skip in his step and stopped just short of bumping into her. He glanced into her shining eyes and found her smile infectious. He felt like he was going to burst from all the excitement and joy.
"Looking for me?" He had hoped as much. "That's good. I was going to come and look for you later today, actually. Just to see how things were and such..." He paused, sensing she had something important to say.
And then it hit him.
Introductions? Wait, did this mean...?
He held his breath and didn't release it until she'd told him her name. Kimya'kizuka. Beautiful. He wasn't sure how, but it certainly seemed to suit her better than Noki.
"Nice to meet you, Kimya'kizuka. Truly. Congratulations! I knew you'd do it! I knew it!" And without thinking he moved to nuzzle her. Then, embarrassment suffused his face and he tried to cover it with some more words.
"What does your new name mean?"
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Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 3:18 pm
Chunuka was Kimya's only real friend outside of her family, she was very excited to tell him her name- and that they could leave soon. And she knew it was rather funny how she had reacted to this, considering her usual calm and quiet was part of how she earned her name. She noticed his movement, and at first did not seem to react- but she too felt a twist of embarrasment when he stumbled to asking her about her new name.
"Thank you," she said gratefully, her voice coming back down to it's more natural tone- though her joy was still evident, "It means quiet spirit or quiet fairy. My father helped me, kizuka is a reminder of my family, my real family."
She didn't explain more, not sure about mentioning the familiar connection to the goddess of souls. But she really was very pleased. Going back to her now decidedly 'false' family was her only worry about the trip home now.
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Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 3:22 pm
He smiled warmly. It suited her. It truly suited her. "I'm so happy for you, Nok-- I mean, Kimya'kizuka. Gosh, it's going to take a bit of getting used to - calling you something different, I mean." He blinked his bright blue eyes and tried to calm his racing thoughts for a moment.
"It's when things like this happen that I start to believe in fate, you know? That we follow a pre-designated path. I hope it isn't the case, but sometimes things seem more than just coincidence. In any case, fated or not, you've found your true name and it is beautiful." Chunuka was rather surprised that his thoughts had trailed onto ones usually far 'deeper' than he normally thought.
He laughed. "And for the first time in my life, I'm starting to think my parents named me well. Chunuka, meaning: to set one's heart on. For all of my days as a cub I never did anything but stick close to my family. Since growing up, though, I've set my heart on two things and stuck at it till everything worked out. One of those being coming with you."
He blinked. "Does this mean we're..." He trailed off, not quite sure how to say 'leaving' out loud.
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Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 3:31 pm
"It will take some getting used to," she agreed, wrinkling her nose thoughtfully, "It's a lot longer than it used to be, maybe a shortened version will help with the transition." She grinned. As Noki her name had already been so short, she'd never had need or use for a nickname. Children's names often were like that, she thought. Short, simple and easy to say. It was like it was a nickname until you figured out what your name really was.
When Chunuka explained how he felt about fate, she only stared- and after a moment she smiled. It was a beautiful thought, and she couldn't help but agree.
"I was so worried when I first started my name quest, no one ever really explains what you're supposed to do to find your name but this does just feel right," she said. When he started to ask about leaving, she shuffled back a bit with a quiet laugh.
"Yes, we're going home."
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Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 3:39 pm
He nodded. "Perhaps it will." He tried to think of the perfect nickname for her, but felt a little bad. It was her new name and whilst it was new and fresh he shouldn't think of ways to cut it short. It's length - as he remembered - was of importance. So, he'd save the nicknaming for another day.
"It must be a wonderful feeling. Sort of...discovering who you are. Truly are. I think...I'm starting to figure out who I am. For so long I've just been a member of a prideland family. Now...since finding you and preparing to make this journey, I felt like I've started to take control of my life." He smiled.
"I think we've both been reborn, maybe in different ways, but to the same effect." And at her last words he smiled and would have danced - if he'd had the confidence.
"We're going home! I can't believe it. This feels...a lot more exciting than I ever could have imagined. Okay, I feel sad about leavig my family. But I can visit and...well...the Pridelands never held anything for me. It wasn't home, not really."
To him, the swamplands were already his home.
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Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 3:44 pm
"We both have family here," she reminded him, glad he was still so enthusiastic about going with her- she was very excited to have someone to take with her, it would help her remain confident so she would not feel so alone when she went back. Without her siblings, unless Shemshi had already returned home, she would be alone so long as she followed through with her desire to avoid her false family.
And besides that, she was glad to have a part in helping Chunuka feel happy and at home.
"We can leave whenever you're ready," she said, "I have to go say about 15 goodbyes but then I'll be ready."
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Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 3:58 pm
He nodded. That was another thing they had in common. Perhaps they could even return here on occasion together, so they'd not have to travel anywhere alone. The thought of her heading out into the roguelands and leaving him behind made him feel somewhat sad.
He smiled fondly. "I'm glad we met. That time when we bumped into each other, I could never have realised how much our friendship would change and grow." Was that fate too, he wondered briefly.
"Tomorrow would be fantastic. I only have a few goodbyes to make. My mother and father and sister and brother. Luckily they tend to stay in one place so they aren't so difficult to find."
He glanced at her then and found himself reluctant to leave her side now that they were almost ready to go.
"Same time tomorrow. Shall I meet you here?"
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Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 4:07 pm
"No, me neither," she laughed, "But I'm glad we did meet, you've helped me more than you know."
Tomorrow. It seemed so quick and sudden, but she could have managed hours from now instead of the next day if she had to. But this way she would definitely get to say goodbye to all of her siblings- and to make sure Pepo would keep an eye out for Shemshi for her. Another day to adjust to her name, to prepare for her return- to think about what she would say when she returned. She'd seen enough of other lions returning to know it wasn't just the same introduction she'd given Chunuka.
"OK, this time tomorrow," she agreed.
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Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 4:12 pm
With a nod, he turned reluctantly from her, and set off towards home. He spared a glance or two over his shoulder to watch her, finding the excitement ease as distance grew between them.
"I've done it." He whispered quietly. "I've made a true friend, at last." And tears of joy filled his eyes. That was all he had ever wanted. Not to be a hero. Not to do something incredible. Not to be king, nor win a battle nor fly to the moon on wings of light. All he wanted - all he had ever wanted was a friend. A friend he could talk to openly with, a friend he could trust. A friend he could be comfortable around no matter what.
He'd found that in Kimya'kizuka.
And his heart grew warm.
"See you tomorrow." He whispered, though by now he was too far away for her to hear.
/fin.
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