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 Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:00 pm
Stretching out slowly she padded out of their den, intent on leaving it behind to see what prey she could find. It was time to hunt again so that she could bring something back for Nukta, entrusting the others to find their own. He was her priority, not them... Although that would change, she was sure, when they gathered their strength enough to return to his pride... She would have to learn to work with others then.
Shaking her head she made her way out into the early morning, hoping to catch someone, or something, unaware.
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:23 pm
 Unguzo was having an interesting day. Or was it morning? Evening? He didn't really know, though the sun in the sky was a good indication that it was not yet night again. He hadn't been sleeping recently. The cub, the little mottled one, had gotten sick and he found himself unable to keep from watching it. He sat over it, impassive, like a sentinel, watching and waiting for its every breath. That had been, what? A few days? A week? It was better now, and yet he still watched it.
He didn't want anything else to happen without his knowing.
Sighing, he trudged from his den, leaving his other cubs and Hyun behind him without a word. On his back was the young cub he had so painstakingly watched over, though he would never admit it was out of any sort of affection. This girl bore his genes, and he would not stand for it succumbing to weakness. But he couldn't watch over her forever. He was hungry, and Hyun had been bothering him about how little he ate, though he did bring food for her and the cubs. Even that pink thing, Keki.
Whatever.
So now he had to go and find something to eat, but he couldn't bring himself to leave the littlest girl behind him. He padded along slowly, carefully, eyes scanning for something suitable to hunt while, every now and then, flicking down to the floor so he didn't trip. He spotted a lioness in the distance, apparently out doing the same thing he was. He frowned.
Two lions in one spot did not make for good hunting.
"Are you hunting?" he called, skipping anything introductory, "or just passing through?"
On his back, the little lion cub, Hitilafu, yawned, purring.
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:36 pm
Her eyes narrowed slightly at the sight of another lion in the distance, soon followed by the sound of his voice interrupting her thoughts and her hunt. She bit back whatever remark she could have made, standing her ground instead as her tail flickered behind her. "Hunting... And if you have to ask such a question, I should assume that you are as well. To my knowledge these grounds have been unclaimed for some time... Unless you're going to start calling them yours now?" Her brow lofted slightly as she eyed the lion, taking note of the small one on his back.
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:44 pm
Unguzo tilted his head at the lioness. He had never thought much of the female side of his species. In his pride they had to prove themselves to be worth anything at all, beyond what necessitated their being kept around at all. They were used for breeding, making the pride larger, and for raising those cubs. They hunted, but never had much rank. It was only when one had a remarkable amount of strength and spirit that they earned even a low position in the pride.
Times had changed, of course. One of the fighters he respected most was a female. Everything was a bit off, a bit weird. He still wasn't used to it.
"They're not mine," he said with a shrug, which he stopped midmotion. He didn't want to upset the cub on his back. Sighing, acting like every lion carried their young around like he was and there was nothing to be embarrassed about, he arched an eyebrow at the stranger, "I suppose we'll just have to hope there's enough prey here for the two of us."
He grinned, "or you could try to beat me to it, but I don't think you're chances are too good."
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:54 pm
"Seeing as though you've got a big of baggage, I'd say that my chances are higher than yours. I'm also familiar with these lands..." She glanced him over, a smirk curving the corners of her muzzle. "And I would bet anything that I am faster than you are... So perhaps you should be the one hoping that there is enough prey here for the two of us. All I need is enough to bring back for my mate." She nodded, convinced that they wouldn't be staying in these lands for much longer anyways.
"You are going to set that cub down before you take off after breakfast, aren't you? I'd hate to see the little thing go flying..."
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 4:02 pm
Unguzo frowned. He didn't like being shown up all that much. Of course he knew he had his cub with him, but he hadn't thought about her knowing the lands better than him. It was probably true, too, considering he was relatively unfamiliar. He stared blankly at her as she smirked at him, his own grin faded, not looking impressed.
"Nah, I figure she's got enough claw strength to hang on back there for a run," he said blandly, almost sounding sincere. He arched an eyebrow, maintaining his sarcastic line of thought, "and what's wrong with your mate that you have to bring food back to him? I never bought in to relying on females to bring back kills. Always made me think the male was weak."
He shrugged nonchalantly.
Hitilafu, knowing better than to try to talk to her daddy while he was talking to someone else, sat up a bit and tilted her head, trying to look past Unguzo's big mane to see where the pretty, unfamiliar voice was coming from.
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 4:08 pm
"Nothing is wrong with him that a little bit more time and the righting of wrongs won't fix... And even if everything was perfect, I would still be doing the hunting. Females are built for it; we're leaner and faster than most males." She snorted softly, shaking her head. "Males, of all creatures, should know that their strength is built for other things; protecting what's theirs and fighting off invaders."
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 4:17 pm
"Yes, we are very good at doing things like fighting and... well. Fighting. I know I am, anyway, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't strive to keep our every other skill sharp. Though... I suppose time and circumstance have a way of softening those once tuned muscles..." he looked distractedly sorrowful, thinking about how he used to be vicious and driven, but now seemed only to think about his little family and their well being/training.
He would give anything to have some excitement back in his life. Some danger.
"Righting of wrongs, hm?" He said, suddenly kneeling down so his cub could climb off his back. She was wiggling a bit too much. "Do you mind my asking what? Or is that too personal for a stranger who has yet to identify himself? I'm Unguzo, on that note."
Hitilafu padded toward the lioness instantly, smiling brightly as she toddled. She was still very young, though she knew how to speak in short bursts. The concept of inhibitions, however, had not yet been instilled in her. She bumped into the lionesses leg, not too good with estimating how much space she would need to stop once she started moving.
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 4:31 pm
"Dunia'enye..." She nodded, bowing her head in a slight show of momentary respect, followed by a slight burst of amusement shining her her eyes as the cub bumped into her leg. She brought her paw up, giving the little one a light pat on the head before nudging her back in her father's direction.
"It is not too personal, but it is not my story to tell as much as it is my mate's. Perhaps I could bring you back to him... If you have some time before breakfast?" Her brow lofted slightly as she glanced up at the male. She had all day to hunt, getting it done early was merely a bonus.
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 4:38 pm
Unguzo tilted his head, watching his cub impassively. He smiled thinly when it was easy redirected, lowering his head for her to toddled toward him. She licked him lovingly on the nose and he huffed at her, which made her fall down on her butt. All this he did without looking particularly loving or paternal, and yet still managing to radiate both. Much to his own chagrin.
He looked back up at her, nodding. He rarely used nicknames for others, so he took note of her full name carefully. It would look bad if he managed to mispronounce it later.
"I don't have anything planned for the day," he said, which was true. His life was strikingly boring, and he was all too aware of it, "I'm interested in meeting this mate of yours. And hearing your story."
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 4:48 pm
"Then come follow me and I will take you to him." She nodded slowly as she turned back towards their den. She knew that they would need the strength of others if Nukta wanted to turn the tables on his brother, and what better way to start than by bringing others back to her mate?
She paused as they neared their home, glancing back over her shoulder for a moment. "... Wait here." She instructed before heading forward herself. "... Nukta? Are you awake? We have company..."
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 4:56 pm
He had been awake for some time but left off getting up for the moment. Du hadn't been around and his first though was that she was hunting and would return eventually with, hopefully, something filling to eat.
Hearing his voice he lifted his head and turned his good eye toward her. "Company?" Pulling himself up he shook his mane out. "What sort of company would this be then?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:12 pm
Unguzo followed, letting Hitilafu walk beside him for a short distance. About two feet. She was too slow and he was impatient. He picked her up by the loose fur of her neck, carrying her with an oblivious air to her adorable wiggling and giggling. She quieted down before too long, almost sleeping.
He waited as ordered, putting his cub down carefully. She blinked up at him, one eye closed, and he tilted his eyebrow at her. Shaking his head, he looked up when he heard the voices inside.
Thinking that a good cue, he stepped forward, not offering a friendly smile or much of a greeting. He looked at the other lion, nodding in his direction as he stood near Hitilafu.
"My name is Unguzo," he said, "I hear you're interested in something like, ah how did your mate here word it... 'righting of wrongs'?"
Hitalfu swatted at her dad's tail playfully, not really caring about what the grown ups were discussing.
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:19 pm
She stepped up, taking her place beside Nukta as he stepped out of their den and made his way over. "He was interested in hearing your story... I thought it would be best to let you tell it, as it is yours and not mine in the first place..." Not yet, at least. It would become both of theirs soon enough.
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:29 pm
He looked the other male over and took note of the cub. It was a bit odd to see a cub around without a mother along but for the moment that wasn't his issue.
"I am interested in taking a throne back from the brother that stole it from me. By whatever means are necessary." Rasi deserved whatever pain he would get for taking the throne from him. He should have been King. They should have been looking up to Him.
"Currently i am ... in the market for any who would be willing to aid me." He hated admitting it but thanks to a little b***h of a traitor he had lost some of his skill. He was still getting used to his vision not being what it used to be.
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