"Mum!" Azar'bijan, the most red-coloured Firekin to ever walk these lands, was calling out for his mother, Kibela. "Mum! Mum, are you there?" He drew up to the den and stomped his paws fiercely. His eyes were glossy and it looked as if he'd been crying. But boys didn't cry, that's what he would have said if he had asked.
"Mum!!" Was she not there? If not, then where was she!? He needed her now. Now more than ever. With a loud huff he moved up to the entrance and poked his face inside.
"Anyone there?"
--
A heavy paw fell on the young one's mane from behind, as Kibela sat behind him, calmly looking down to her obviously upset son. " Azar... You'll wake your sister. " Frowning slowly at the evidence of tears, her head tilted, tone a bit more worried then it had been.
She may not be good at handling the cubs, but that certainly didn't mean she didn't care. " What is wrong..? Did someone hurt you? " Crimson eyes narrowed dangerously at the thought.
" If they didn't... then I'm about to... " Came a small, agitated growl from the cave he'd been yelling into. Ruko slowly stalked out into the light, looking drowsy, and highly pissed off.
--
Azar felt the paw on his head and whipped around, relieved to see his mother. Perhaps he was a secret mummy's boy when no one else was looking? Well, Azar certainly didn't act like he was around others, being too cocky, confident and annoying. But deep down he adored his mother and when ever anything bad happened he'd always try and seek her out first.
"No Mother! Not like that. It was Ki--" His words were cut short as his sister interrupted, moving out to join in the conversation. Azar's heavy brow furrowed and he sent his sister a glare that was meant to scare her away so he could have some time with his mother.
"Go away, Ruko. No one asked you to come out here." He tried to give her a shove, to push her back in the den.
--
Hissing at the treatment, Ruko sunk her claws into the dirt and rock. After a long, silent glare, she slowly back away into the cave, moving just out of their sight. With a smirk, her ears perked up to listen in on the conversation.
Resisting a weary sigh at the interaction between her children, Kibela shifted to settle and lay down at the mouth of the cave, pulling her only red-furred son to her. " Alright. Explain. What has you so upset? " she asked softly, trying to sooth him as she stroked a paw through his mane.
Childhood problems tended to be completely over blown and dramatic. She had never experienced that herself, thanks to being so detached from her family and pride long before. But she had soother her sister Radi through many similar situations. Drawing up on that, Kibela drew her son close, to comfort him in a similar way that had worked on her sister.
--
Glaring after his sister, but content that she was gone, he turned back and set full attention onto his mother. This was better. He cuddled against her and looked up into her face, his eyes large and wide.
"It's Kidondo, Mother, he said a horrible thing to me. Really horrible! I thought he was supposed to be a nice lion but...but he isn't!" Little Bi pressed closer to his mother's dark fur. His own pelt closesly resembled hers, but instead of black patches on black fur, it was red patches on red fur.
His face screwed up with the begginings of a temper tantrum. "Mother, he said I wasn't good enough to be a Soldier! He said I can't be apprenticed by one! You have to tell him. You have to get him to change his mind! I'm a good fighter, Mum. I've been practising and everything. He doesn't know what he's talking about."
--
Kibela blinked in surprise, instantly torn the second Kidondo's name. Her head tilted a bit as she continued to listen, frowning lightly. That didn't sound much like her brother. Nor was it an innocent little problem, sadly.
" Did he explain to you why he believed you would not make a good soldier? " She asked him softly, trying to remain un-biased on both sides, as it involved two people she cared for deeply.
Fighting was not her forte, though she could be fierce when she needed to be. It was difficult for her to pick out those who had the knack for it before their adolescence. Slowly, she took the time to study her son's build, trying to see what Kidondo had seen when he judged the youth.
Ruko barely resisted a snicker at the news, slowly peeking around the corner of the cave. She herself had yet to bother going to receive judgment, though it was for the simple reason that she had no real desire toward any one specific job in her life. To be judged and titled so early on.. How could they stand the confinement? Already it had her brother in tears... She would certainly pass.
--
"He said I wasn't very good with my balance. He said I thought to much with my claws and not enough with my head. That's like saying I was stupid." He stood and gave his mother a nudge, as if to say 'let's go and beat some sense into him'.
"I was practising and everything! But he said that I weren't made for fighting. And guess what, Mother, he told me I should be a stupid, boring Guard. A Guard! How am I going to be a hero if I don't do nothing but walk around on the borders?" He was sniffing back tears again, shaking slightly.
"It's not fair. Other cubs get to be soldiers. Cubs much worse than what I am!" And he bit back the tears as they threatened to overflow again. The truth was, however, that Azar'bijan really wasn't cut out for fighting and that actually he did have a rather strong defence. But Azar's feelings had been hurt and his dreams torn and scattered to the winds.
He was hurting and wanted someone to make it better. Namely, his mother.
--
" Is that what you really think? " She asked him, with a light smile. " That guards are weak, and boring, and could never be heroes? " She awaited his response curiously.
She'd never spoke much of Bodaway, and the little ones had probably never even guessed his job around the pride from the few times they'd seen the powerful old lion. She could see Kidondo's reasoning. But hers was much more towards mentality than it was physical condition. Those who were so set on glory often fell to tragedy. They got cocky, over-confident, and met early ends, sometimes accidentally taking allies down with them...
And always these types judged so harshly toward the ranks, the jobs, that they considered 'beneath' their dream.
Her calculating mind made quick work of the words she would need to comfort her son, while trying to push him into the acceptance of his path. While it was true that, as Magistrate, and a sister, she could hold much sway over Kidondo, and possibly ask him to put her son into his chosen rank, regardless of skill... She would never do such a thing. Not even for one of her own.
Even if Azar's 'hate' turned toward her for not helping him in the way he wanted, he would one day understand their reasoning.
--
"Yes." He snapped irritably, unaware of his mother's thoughts and feelings on the matter. "I want to fight, not guard! I want to be in the army, rise to Captain, then Sergeant and maybe even General someday. But now I won't get that chance. Because of Kidondo." He stamped a paw again and wrinkled his snout. "Please, Mother, talk to him? I know you can get him to change his mind? Just tell him...tell him that I'm a fighter. That you know I can do it!"
She was right, of course, being a soldier was not the best path for him. He was impulsive, fiery with his actions. He'd most certainly lead himself and others into thoughtless danger without a moment of hesitation.
He was a glory seeker, this one.
"Ple~ease!"
--
" Little one. What do you think of his father? You are wanting to be powerful like him, yes? " She asked as she drew him closer, beginning to gently clean up the evidence of his tears, before moving on to the rest of his dusty body.
Growing bored with her brother's whining, and planning to tease him much later on it, once he was calm and accepting of his fate, Ruko moved out from around the corner, padding off past her mother and brother without a glance.
With a quirky smirk, she took off, leaving the two to there talk. She had other siblings to bother, or torment, now that she was awake.
Kibela shot a glance after her daughter, but made no comment. The took after Kibela's own father it seemed... And that was a worrisome thing. She could only hope that Ruko proved to be more stable than her grandfather was.
--
He looked at his mother long and hard. "Yes...I don't know...I guess so." He gave a little shrug and fell silent as Ruko appeared, moving past them. Had she heard? Heard everything? He growled and would have gone after her if his mother hadn't been giving him this much needed attention.
"Stupid sisters..." He muttered. Yes, they fought a lot, but they cared about each other...deep down. Or so it would be hoped.
When she was gone, truly gone this time, he turned back to his dark-pelted mother. His ears lay flat against his neck and his eyes were filled with despair. "You're not going to get Kidondo to change his mind, are you?"
--
" It is not my place to do so. " She said regretfully, resting her head across his back. " All of us. We all have a place in this pride. Mine is to ease Kidondo's burden, giving him my input and advice on difficult matters so that he will not bear the weight of such things between only himself, and No. "
Smiling slightly, she looked out at the distant desert. " Your father, Bodaway. His place is to guard our borders. You may think so little of the guards, but it is only due to their bravery that you may live here, safe and comfortable. They are out there, as we speak, putting their lives on the line to make sure nothing dares come near our home. Such bravery is not to be mocked or slighted. More so even than they soldiers, who laze around here, awaiting the next battle, I find guards are much more heroic. It is what drew me to Bodaway to begin with, watching as he protected our land. "
" Kidondo.. He has his place to. He is not moved by selfish wants. He does only what he thinks is best, to keep our pride, our family safe. His words were not ment to hurt you, but he was not willing to hide the truth from you just to make you feel better. If he believes you are not suited, then your place here is among the brave guards, son. "
--
"Fine." He muttered, trying his best not to sound dissapointed but failing miserably. "Guess I better go practise at being a heroic guard, then." He moved away from his mother, wishing that she had said she would talk to Kidondo for him.
"He said I can be apprenticed to Uuo..." He muttered softly. "Cos she's the best. Guess he felt bad. Well if he felt bad he shouldn't have said nothing."
He shook himself all over. "Sorry, Mum." The apology was half-hearted, but at least he had tried.
"I'm...I'm gonna go practise." And with that, he snuffled noisily and threw himself across the sand. He was going to go and find his sister and make sure she promised not to tell anyone about his tears.
--
Azar! " She called after him with a slight smirk. " If you get the chance... Ask Uuo to show you how she stands up to a Soldier. You may be surprised by which one is the better fighter. "
Getting up, she too went off, in search of her brother. It felt only right to apologize for her son's impulsive anger, and the hurtful words he no doubt let slip to their regent over his 'dream'.
Honestly, children... She just couldn't understand the selfishness they possessed. Did all act in such a manner? She would most certainly have to avoid having any more of the confusing little creatures. It did not bode well for her questionable sanity.
