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 Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 6:27 pm
 The jungle was Clotho's favorite thing in the world. Its sounds, its smells, its sights, its feeling...It was life.
After departing from her homeland in search of a safe haven for her newly born cubs, Clotho had wondered if she would ever find the place she sought; a truly perfect place that she had envisioned for her cubs' future lives. If such a place existed, where would it be, she had wondered?
And now she had found it. Of that, she was sure.
Of course it would be in a jungle. Her cubs would have to grow up and know the jungle; grow with it, live with it...It was to be their home. If there was one thing she and her cubs would share, it would be that.
Her cubs were very small, still. Pink eyes glancing behind, she watched them tenderly as they slept, snuggled together in a wad of warm bodies and fluff. They were not yet fully weaned of her milk. To leave them suddenly would be terrible for them. But then, if she did leave now while they weren't weaned, perhaps there would be a nursing mother in those lands? One who would take them in and care for them. They would nurse with her and grow to know her as their mother. Perhaps that would be...Perhaps Clotho was not doing a great injustice.
The leopardess shifted her gaze to the treetops, mouth open in awe as she stared at the beauty of the jungle.
She had reached a decision. Now it was time to find Huang.
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:14 am
It was summer season here in the Achana, everything bright and blooming. The last week and a half had been some of the happiest in Huang's life. He'd agreed just such a short time ago with Toh and Sam that they belonged together as a trio and the honeymoon period was by no means over yet. However Huang still had to get to work anyway, for just a couple of days ago a new arrival - or rather one big one and several small ones - had turned up in the Achana jungles. Clotho, a pale pink leopardess, had cropped up with a litter of newborn hybrids and was seeking a home for her offspring. As a male who longed to be a father himself he couldn't imagine leaving any cubs of his own to grow up somewhere without him, but he was sympathetic to what he knew of her situation.
Huang was the main player of a few members who had helped show her round and the leader-figure who was keeping a special eye on her. Not because she was distrusted but to make sure her time here with them went smoothly. Regardless of her decision to leave the cubs with the Achana or not, it would be a sanctuary for her in the meantime. The Achana was a sanctuary for all good creatures and if the seer was a little odd...well, who was Huang to judge? His seer powers had only awoken a while back and the first thing he'd seen was a new mate to go fetch!
After checking in on Isikali first and then Roho just for fun, he wandered to where Clotho was denning.
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 12:07 pm
Orange and yellow contrasting nicely with the green of the jungle, Clotho spotted Huang easily and walked over to him. Her footsteps were smooth and quiet, careful not to wake her sleeping cubs.
Her cubs...Yet she had to leave them.
Shaking the thought away, the leopardess came before the lion and bowed her head politely. During her time there, the tiger-striped male was the one she had gone to time and again with questions about the Achana, and to ask for advice. Clotho had deduced that Huang was a kind, strong individual. She took comfort knowing that her cubs would be raised around him, as well as many others like him.
Things wouldn't be bad for her cubs...They would have a good life here. Certainly if her cubs stayed with her, and her sisters happened to return, the cubs would be killed. The thought gave the new mother chills.
"Good day." the pink leopardess greeted, smiling warmly. She hesitated before speaking next, because she knew once the next words were said there was no taking them back. "I've come to a decision, Huang." she said softly, hesitating still.
Just a few moments more of silence...Just a few moments more of being with her cubs.
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Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:08 am
"Good day." He replied, repeating her greeting in turn and offering a calm smile rather than a bow. As she announced she'd reached her decision, he waited through a few moments of silence before asking "-What is it, Clotho?"
Huang didn't wish to pressure her into deciding too soon nor influence her too much in favour of the Achana. While new life here was seen as wonderful thing and something to be cherished (especially now that the general infertility of hybrids was known) it was her choice that mattered more. Clotho knew what the Achana was like now, had been shown how they lived and what their lands were like. She'd met members, seen other youngsters about and playing, some too who'd simply been adopted to be raised by the entire Achana.
Either she'd have decided that it was right for her cubs - or not. Huang would just have to see.
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Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 5:37 pm
Her decision...Her decision...Why was it so difficult to say? She simply had to give up the cubs. There was no other way; no second option. She had no choice. The decision had already been made, after all. Not by her, but by fate. Yet the words choked in her throat and stayed there, refusing to come up.
It was just the way of things, Clotho thought to herself. There were rules to abide by. It was the life she chose. She would not turn her back on her sisters...She could not. They had done too much for her. But her cubs...
...No, they were no longer her cubs. They were now the Achana's cubs.
"I have decided..." the leopardess said kindly, still smiling despite her inner turmoil. "...That my cubs will live happily here. Will you take them in, Huang?" she offered gently.
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Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 6:38 am
"Yes, of course." Huang nodded. "We'll take the best care of them we can, Sauda and any other female who can will even nurse them if they still need it when you leave. You're welcome to stay as long as you wish and visit whenever you're close."
He knew, despite the smile, that his reassurances were needed. Clotho seemed like a kind leopardess and she was doing what she thought best for her children...but it wasn't (couldn't, he thought) be easy for her. The bond a mother had with her children was usually strong, borne of carrying them and strengthened by the acts of delivering and nursing them. The least he could do was offer some reassurances.
"I know that the other cubs will be happy for more playmates."
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Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:30 am
"Ah," Clotho uttered softly, eyes shifting to the cubs behind her. "Of course..."
That was right. There were other cubs in the pride; young playmates for her children. Her cubs would grow up surrounded by good friends, possible rivals...And maybe their future mates. Only time would tell what would happen to them, and even though she wouldn't see it, she knew they would have wonderful lives there. Each and every one of them...
They would grow up as the Achana's own children. The Achana was now their family.
"Thank you, Huang." Clotho said earnestly, averting her pink eyes to the jungle floor. "...It is time for me to go, then." she murmured. She stood and bow her head slightly to the lion before walking to her sleeping cubs. It would be the most difficult good-bye of her life. She wouldn't wake them...She would let them sleep and dream, not knowing the pain of separation just then. She would shield them from that for a little longer.
Just a little longer...
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Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:49 pm
"There is no need to rush if you want a bit more time with them?" Huang was a bit surprised, though his expression didn't really betray it - he usually was careful with what he emoted after all. He had expected her to maybe stay a couple more days. But maybe it was like ripping out a deep thorn from someone's paw. Better to get it over with quickly, it hurt less.
"But if this is goodbye, I'll give you a bit of privacy...You're doing the right thing from what you've said Clotho and I swear, we'll take care of them for you." He said and with draw a little to let her say goodbye in her own time, if this was it.
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Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 10:14 am
"No," the leopardess whispered in reply to his suggestion for her to stay longer. "The longer I wait, the harder..." but she didn't finish her sentence, for her mind wandered elsewhere as she looked upon her cubs. Her face grew placid and she walked towards them. The reassuring words of the king were all she needed to hear just then. They would spur her on into leaving. It was time to. And as she had told herself a million times before, it needed to be done. There was no way around it.
Clotho lowered herself onto her stomach and lied beside her cubs, nuzzling them softly for one last time. Their last memory of her would be in their sleep; the feel of her warm muzzle caressing them gently, easing their nightmares into pleasant dreams full of happy things. They would miss her, she knew that very well. But it wouldn't be so bad. They would be strong, like she was. Their lives would be lacking in nothing. One day, maybe, she would be able to return for them; perhaps live there with them. Or perhaps they would seek her out in time? Whatever the case, they would be happy in the Achana. And she would find her own happiness as time went on.
"Goodbye, my little loves." she whispered, sending every ounce of motherhood she possessed in that last phrase.
Rising to her feet, the leopardess turned around, her smile long since faded. She bowed her head to Huang once more, eyes downcast, unable to voice a farewell or thank-you. But one glance into the lion's eyes said all that needed to be said.
And with that, the leopardess walked into the trees, never looking back. Soon, the scent of her cubs would wash out of her fur. She would perhaps forget each of their individual smells, each of their tiny voices and personalities; she might force herself to forget to ease the loss. But she would never forget them entirely. She would not forget being a mother. Her journey home would be a harsh one with those thoughts in her head, and with the feel of smooth footsteps instead of tripping over small, romping cubs. But she would do it. It had to be done.
It all had to be done.
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Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 12:16 pm
Huang when Clotho came out, sought her eyes for that one last glance and silently wished her all the best in the world. But then one of the cubs made a small mewl - perhaps, he thought, somehow sensing their mother had just left - and he went into the den. Feeling just a tad and intruder, he soothed the cub and checked they'd be alright for a moment alone.
He slipped out to fetch a few helpers to move the cubs and the furs that smelt of their mother for now to a more central den, where the community could care for them as a whole. They were part of the Achana family now, and the Achana would take care of their own.
End.
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