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 Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:48 pm
 Lately her morning routines had come to involve a little bit more than just taking care of Nukta and herself. While she knew that Unguzo and his little one were staying away on their own for whatever their reasons may be she felt sort of... Responsible, perhaps, in a slightly competitive way. What better way to woo someone to her mate's cause than by offering to aide them as well?
Besides, the little one was adorable, tugging at her heart in a way that only cubs could to a lioness who had yet to have any of her own.
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:07 pm
 Unguzo wasn't much for friendship. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate a friendly hand, or that he couldn't understand why someone might want to visit on a regular basis, but he was so unused to it that it bothered him more than soothed him. He suspected ulterior motives, though he didn't let on. Hitilafu liked the company, anyway, so he couldn't complain.
At least the little thing wasn't bother him all the time now.
He was standing near the den he had found for himself and his baby, looking around. He was expecting her to stop by, which was odd. He didn't want to go off and do his own thing until he spotted her.Hitilafu padded around nearby, chasing a little, slow moving bug. She knew better than to wander too far, though she had managed to go off on her own once. She hoped her daddy never found out about that, though!
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:15 pm
She dropped the hare that she'd been carrying on the ground between her feet, standing just beyond the borders that Unguzo had set up around his den, tilting her head to the wind to see if she could catch his scent. "Unguzo. Are you there?" She knew he was, of course, having caught that scent that she was looking for... But it would be nice to ask anyways. "I've brought something for Hitilafu..."
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:24 pm
"I'm here," Unguzo said, gruffly. He walked toward her voice, a cub racing ahead of him. "Daughter, be calm. Don't run. It's not dignified. And what if you fell? Calm down."
Hitilafu looked back at her dad, nodding, smiling brightly, and then turning back to her path. She made careful note of her feet, not going too fast, but still bouncing up to the familiar lioness happily. She, unlike her father it seemed, loved have company over.
"Hi!" She said eagerly, looking up with a broad smile. She looked down at the rabbit and sniffed at it in wonder.
Unguzo padded up leisurely, nodding at them both, saying hello to one and indicating the other should be patient. Hit sat down.
"Good morning," he said, a bit blandly.
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:36 pm
"Good morning, Hitilafu." She smiled at the youngster, her grin shifting into a wry one as she glanced up at the male. "And good morning to you as well, Uguzo." Her eyes lingered on him for a moment as if waiting to see if he'd say anything about her presence, gaze lowering to the little once after a moment.
"I thought you might like this..." She nudged the rabbit towards the cub, pleased that she'd managed to catch one nearby so that it was still warm. "Little ones need to eat to grow strong, after all... Isn't that right, Unguzo?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:44 pm
Unguzo watched her impassively, sighing and looking down at his daughter. She looked up at him with big, wide eyes and he nodded, his face not even flinching. She seemed to read something in it, though and she giggled and rubbed his leg.
She then looked up and purred at Dunia.
"Thank you, Miss!" she said, ever so politely, and she giggled again. How Unguzo managed to teach his daughter manners while she managed to retain her innocent, unspoiled nature was a wonder. Looking at him, he wasn't much for playing nice with anyone. He didn't even look at her like a father was supposed to, instead he seemed constantly annoyed. But somehow he was making it work.
Hitilafu sniffed and pawed at the rabbit for a moment before chewing on it contentedly. Unguzo tilted his head at Dunia.
"How are you and your mate as of late?" he asked, not sounding particularly interested. He was, in a way, since he would be following them. But he didn't know how to vocalize it.
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:55 pm
"You're most welcome." She nodded slowly before stepping back away from the rabbit so that Hitilafu could have her way with it while she spoke with the youngster's father. "We are well. A herd has moved closer to our lands and I thought it might be a good idea to bring the news to you along with a treat for the little ones... It seems as if the two of you are doing fine out here?" Her brow lofted slightly as she glanced around as if truly interested in something other than formalities. "I'm wondering if their movement might bring others with them..."
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:12 pm
Unguzo nodded.
"We're doing well. I can at least provide for her. So long as she doesn't wander, I don't think I'll have any problems out here."
He looked down at Hit, who was happily chewing on the rabbit, fur all over her face. He shook his head, not smiling at the rather adorable sight, and looked at his female company.
"They might. Maybe it's a path lots of creatures follow," he said.
"Yummy!" Hit decided to share with the two, looking up at them with her face all bloody and messy.
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:19 pm
"If you are concerned with her wandering too far you could always make sure that she knows the path from your den to ours. I cannot speak for Nukta in many matters, but I know in this one he would not disagree with me in saying that she is more than welcome to visit the two of us. It might not be bad for her to have a female to learn some tricks from... Not that I have any doubts in how wonderful of a father you are." Her smile was still soft, true expression unreadable if there was anything behind her amusement. "You should be very proud of her."
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:28 pm
Unguzo looked a bit ruffled. He looked down at Hit, eyes flashing a bit, then returned his glance to Dunia.
"I'm... not sure I'd feel comfortable..." why was he trying to be polite. He blew a sigh through his nose and shook his head, clearing his throat, "I don't think she's old enough to travel anywhere on her own, even short distances. She knows to stay in the cave. Don't you, daughter?"
"Yeah!" Hit stood, all purrs and smiles, and rubbed Dunia's leg. She looked at the smear of blood she left behind and frowned, licking at it with her small tongue to clean it off, "sorry!"
"Daughter," Unguzo said, his tone a warning. His ears perked and he looked at Dunia, frowning. He didn't know how good a father he was, or if he even wanted to be a good father, but he nodded. Maybe he was proud of her, but he wasn't able to admit it yet.
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:43 pm
"Maybe once she's older, if we haven't gathered enough resources to move on by then." She kept her eyes on the male for a moment before leaning down, rough tongue running along one of the little one's dirty cheeks. "You should always clean yourself off after a good meal, Hitilafu... Especially with a coat as light as yours, but I'm sure that your father's told you that before, hasn't he." She chuckled softly, looking up to Unguzo once more. "Children..."
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:49 pm
Hit looked stunned. How could she forget that?! Her dad would be mad at her, maybe, if he remembered later. She looked up at him and he didn't look down. Sighing, she looked back up at Dunia and smiled, nodding furiously.
"I will!" she said, licking at her own paw furiously and trying to clean off the blood from her cheeks dutifully. Unguzo rolled his eyes, almost affectionately.
"Yeah, children," he echoed, shaking his head, "you and yours are still trying for cubs, aren't you? Perhaps having Hit visit you every now and then wouldn't be such a bad idea. She seems to like you. I'll walk her, of course, and only if you want to have her for... a little while, some day." He seemed hesitant even to suggest letting her out of his sight.
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:59 pm
"It is always best to remember the lessons that you're taught." She nodded slowly, with a light tone of mock sternness that disappeared the moment she paused to address the male. "Yes, we are. It will happen soon, of that I have no doubt... We are just waiting for Fortune to bless us. In the mean time, and even after, you both would be more than welcome to spend time with us. Perhaps Hitilafu and I could discuss important female things while you and my mate discuss... Male things." She smirked softly.
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 9:04 pm
"Female things!" Hit echoed, standing and padding over to her dad. She rubbed his leg affectionately, pressing herself as close to him as she could. He lifted his paw a little, but put it down quickly enough to let her continue with her rubbing. He nodded, his voice rumbling in his throat.
"Yeah, I guess we could. I wouldn't mind talking to him some more. About everything. Business."
"Excuse me, miss," Hit said quietly, not meaning to interrupt, but really, really wanting to say something. Unguzo looked down at her impatiently, and she seemed to retreat but a slight inclination of his head told her she was fine.
Smiling, she walked a few steps toward Dunia.
"Thank you for the yummy food," she said politely, "you're very nice and I really liked it."
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 9:12 pm
"You are more than welcome." She responded with another nod of her head, a sort of fond warmth seeping into her eyes for a brief moment before it was replaced by her usual determined gaze. "I should be returning to my mate... We have many things to discuss about the herd's movements and what it might mean as far as our numbers go. Don't be a stranger." Again with that slight smirk as she turned to make her way back through the tall grasses, hoping that she would see the other two sooner than later.
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