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 Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 3:24 pm
Kobe sat on the very water's edges, pushing his boundaries as well as those of his mother's. Kamaria trusted the ocean, but knew that it could be dangerous for cubs. She had been so protective of Omoa that she was surprised with how much her only son was capable of getting away with. Despite this, Kobe trusted his mother and fell back when the waves reached his paws. He wore a look of absolute thrill on his face as the cold water crept along his toes. Kobe had known nothing but very cold water since he had been born, but his mother told him that during the summer months even the ocean became warm and comfortable. Once Summer came, Kobe looked forward to exploring the water further. Perhaps his mother would give him more flexibility then.
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Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 3:26 pm
Busy following the black and white cub, her silver eyes did not take in what was actually around her. Not only did she not see her cousin, but she didn’t see the water either. The cub she was following turned right and kept on running through the tall grasses of the savanna. Well, there must be something over there, she reasoned. Following, her mind didn’t even register that she was in the water as the white foamy waves brushed against her paws. The water simply wasn’t there, another step forward brought her chest high and there was no sign she thought about stopping though she was moving slower.
Kobe's eyes were focused on the waves. It was such a thrill to watch them curl upwards and then come down with a crash, sending salty spray in every direction. Had he not already been looking in that direction, he might hae missed Ziba wading out into the water. Tilting his head, the cub imagined what she might be up to. Did Aunty Senatla say that Ziba could go out into the water? Kobe expected to see his own mother run out after the cub, but glancing back it seemed she either didn't notice or knew that the pale cub had been given permission. Lifting himself from the sand, the spotted male cub followed after. "Hey! What are you doing? Are you allowed out there?" Kobe wasn't trying to get his cousin in trouble, but something about the way she moved seemed curious to him. Not to mention if Ziba was allowed in the ocean, he should be too!
Right before she had gotten deep enough to get her head underwater, her cousin broke the cub’s vision. Suddenly finding herself neck deep in water, with no idea how she had gotten there, she screamed. Turning, the panicked white cub fought her way to shore; getting hit a time or two by the gently rolling white foamy waves. Quickly getting herself on to dry land, she seemed to shrink as her body huddled into a massive of shivering fur. Only the few minutes to shake the excess water off were given before she curled her shock red tail under herself. Blinking a few times she wondered where the cub had gone before turning to her cousin. "I am sorry, what did you say?" He had broken her vision but at the time mortal peril was overriding her comprehending what she was hearing.
Everything seemed to flash before Kobe's eyes in an instant. He was curious and wanted to play with his cousin, but she seemed to keep drifting into the waves. "That doesn't look like fu-" The cub stopped when he noticed that his cousin was not responding and continuing forward. He was frozen. What was going on? Where was his mom, his aunt, anyone!?
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Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 3:27 pm
The scream was enough to instantly grab Kamaria's attention. Abruptly ending her conversation with another pride member, the new mother jerked upright to find where her son had gone to. When she found him on the shore where he had promised to stay, she appeared puzzled. "Kobe?" She asked frantically, padding towards him quickly. "That wasn't you?" The white cub was almost hidden beneath the foam and it took the mother a moment before she spotted her neice. "Ziba!" She called, her eyes filled with worry. Kamaria waded into the waves and splashed about in her attempt to grab ahold of the cub. To her surprise, Ziba was able to pull herself on land. Following after quickly, the spotted female knelt down to the cub's level and wrapped her paws around her tightly. "Ziba! Ziba! Goodness!" Kamaria felt tears gliding down her cheeks as she dreaded what Senatla would have said.
Kobe simply watched in horror as his mother ran towards the ocean and his cousin managed to pull herself onto the shore. Once she was near him, she simply asked what he had said. With wide eyes, the cub shook sadly, not fully understanding what could have happened.
Ziba struggled against her aunt’s hold on her out of fear. She was extremely confused as it was the cub she was following vanished, then the water, now the mobbing. As the salt left her nose and allowed her to smell again, she became aware that the lioness she was fighting was her own aunt. All at once the fight left her and she cuddled against the dry, comforting older female.
Looking to her cousin again, he never did say what he had asked. So confused her head hurt, she stayed silent hiding against her aunt.
Kobe had hoped that he might find an adventure that day and what he found left him absolutely fearful. Padding slowly towards both his mother and cousin, the cub's ears lay flat against his head. He did not understand what had drawn her out, but he felt guilty. He was small, but he could have done something. Kobe could have yelled for his mother or found his aunt in order to help. But instead of helping he had frozen, unable to do anything but stare frightened as the situation unfolded before his eyes. What if that had been Maha or Kanzi? Could he have done something then? Sadly, Kobe snuggled up to his family, worried to say anything to make the situation worse.
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Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 3:29 pm
Kamaria pulled back slightly when the cub began to flail in a paniced manner. "Ziba, it's me! Your aunt," she tried to explain between saddened breaths. Once the cub had calmed, the lioness continued to embrace her, glad to feel her in her paws with the knowledge that she was safe. When Kobe crept forward, Kamaria could see and feel the fear coming from her son. Pulling him into the hug, the lioness released a deep sigh. This wasn't right. No cub would simply venture out into the waves without a care. She hadn't seen the entire situation unfold, but Kamaria knew Ziba better than that. Each of the cubs was smart enough and obedient to follow direction and know a rough idea as to why. Lowering her ears, the lioness dreaded speaking with her sister about the situation - but she knew she had to.
Cuddling close to Kobe when he was joined in the hug, the cub was silent for longer. She didn’t understand what had happened, but she did understand that she could have died. Her mother and father had told her to stay away from the ocean until she were older. It was not her own mortality that worried her, it was the thought that she’d be in huge trouble. With limited understanding, she said the only thing she could think of that would make things any better, “I am sorry, Aunt Kamaria.” What she as sorry for she couldn’t quite say, it wasn’t done on purpose.
"Ziba, Ziba.." Kamaria cooed towards her wet neice that she was snuggling up very close to. "It is not your fault. I am only glad that you're alright." The older lioness did not fully understand what exactly had happened, but she knew that Ziba had not been in her right mindset. Something had come over the cub and taken away her caution. She had heard of lions going mad before, but typically they were adults at the time in which things were noticed. Perhaps Ziba.... Kamaria shook her head. Those were awful thoughts. Pulling the two cubs closer, the lioness curled tight around the pair and simply purred loudly. "We will keep you safe, Ziba.."
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