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 Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:03 pm
Well, that was an entirely unexpected - but not entirely unpleasant - turn of events. What began as a simple border sweep to follow up on some rumours brought in by the Scouts has turned into new members for the pride. As the Warleader wanders along, his pace deliberately slow, an assortment of cubs trail behind him.
They are oddly quiet, he notices, despite his attempts to engage them in conversation. So eventually Sakata gives up, and instead prattles on to himself as they walk. Describing the lands, the pride, himself, the spirits... anything that comes to mind, he shares with the young cubs behind him. As they draw nearer to the more heavily-occupied areas of the territory he falls silent, re-assuming the stoic mask that the pride has become accustomed to.
The dark lion turns quite a few heads as he strides towards the Minders' hollow, followed as he is by a gaggle of cubs. But he ignores the onlookers. What he wants is a lone female who's either pregnant or with cubs, Or failing that... a young Minder.
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:12 pm
She could do it. She could do it.
Kione watched as her young litter slept next to her, staring down at each of their tiny frames. She hadn't known she was pregnant until near the end, how in the world she hadn't known, well... she didn't know. But now they were here, she was here and she could do it, she would raise these cubs with Tamu and she would be GOOD at it, damn it.
Her brows furrowed, glancing out at the sunlit world outside the cavern she lay within. She'd been scared of the sun hurting their sensitive eyes, despite their growing size, so kept them within the cave's dwellings for the time being. They were mindful little things, but it was just still so unreal to her that all of a sudden, here she was, a mother. To five, no less!
But it was ok. Because she could do it!
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:17 pm
After a quick discussion with one of the older and more trusted Minders, Sakata finds himself... frustrated. None of them are nursing? But he'd been certain that someone else was having cubs, and soon, just a little while ago. maybe he'd heard wrong. But no, no. It was that creepy Haruspex who saw the cubs, from those two that used to be Outsiders just a while ago. Kamu and Tione, or something like that.
A little bit more asking around revealed that the female (what was her name again?) hadn't been seen in a little while, but that she was seen making a den in one of the small caverns by the nearby cliffs. So he rounded up the cubs and set on his way once more - it's a good thing these young ones are used to walking a lot!
And soon enough, the new mother will not have to worry about the sunlight at all. The large form of the Warleader all but fills the entranceway, silhouetted against the bright sky.
"Ah, good," he rumbles, his gaze taking in the cubs.
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:46 pm
She closed her eyes and smiled, resting her head against the cavern wall. The sunlight drew away, she could sense the light leaving, and her eyelids fluttered open to gaze out and look at the cloudy sky, to see if rain would be approaching.
Her orange eyes widened, however, when she failed to see clouds and instead saw the enormous form of the leader, the leader of the Mizimu'Tungika, standing before her.
"My... m-my leader!" She stuttered, unsure of what exactly she was supposed to call the high esteemed Warleader (for heaven forbid she be put in such an uncomfortable position as to dealing with high and mighties!). Part of her attempted to struggle to rise, but the five little ones pressed against her all but trapped her against the cavern wall, "W-What are you doing here?"
Stupid, Kione, reeeeal stupid, she mentally chided herself. This was the Warleader, of course he could go and do whatever he wanted! Why was she questioning him??
Her mouth hung upon in surprise, until she heard the tiny movement from around his feet. Her ears perked, and her head tilted, gazing on curiously in attempts to see what was making the noise, as his paws seemed steady and still.
Were those... were those cubs?
"Sir!" She exclaimed, caught off by surprise, "I didn't know you and the Queen had been expecting! Congratulations!"
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:51 pm
"Sakata is fine," he grunts, clearly more interested in the cubs - and her VAST MILKBAGS - than in her. "Yeah, this'll do well," he mutters to himself, then begins to urge the cubs on. "Go on then, this is... uh.. Tione. She'll be taking care of you."
"Wait, what?" Startled, the Warleader blinks. "Mine? No, no. These aren't mine, haven't you even SEEN the Queen? How could we-- ugh, nevermind." He shakes his heavy head, pushing the last cub into the cavern. "There now, go to your new Minder. She'll take care of you, feed, you, teach you all about your new pride."
And with that duty done, he takes a step back - clearly about to depart.
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 8:11 pm
One by one, little cubs start to wander into the cavern, around the giant lion's paws. One cub, two cub, three cub...
Her mind's spinning by this point... what did Sakata just say? She was honored he'd have her, a lowly no one, refer to him by his first name, and it really didn't matter that much that he couldn't remember her name (at least it was close, right?) but wait. Waitwaitwaitwait.
"Sir-ah-Sakata, wait!" She called out, her gaze darting frantically between the young ones (oh spirits, bless their hearts, they looked just as confused as she did!) and her Warleader. "I'm not a Minder! Shouldn't they be with someone... someone who knows how to take care of them!?"
She wasn't even sure if she was fit enough to care for her babies, much less a stranger's children. "Where is there mother? Is she alright? Sakata, I don't understand!"
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 8:16 pm
"You look like a Minder to me," he shrugs, pointing at her own cubs, "have you already taken on another task? Most members of other ranks let the Minders have their cubs."
What Kione doesn't know, of course, is that Sakata rarely expects others to refer to him as the Warleader. The Big Scary Title only comes into play when others are being stupid and he needs to remind them of his position. He sighs, realizing that it won't be as easy as simply dumping them and wandering away, and then settles down for a moment.
"The mother abandoned them near the border. She had... eight cubs, I think. Too much for a rogue to care for. So she left some with me, and I am leaving them with you."
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:26 pm
A Minder... she, a Minder?
She glanced away from the Warleader and back towards the new arrivals. Some were silver, another was golden. While not all of them looked related, they all shared the same scrawny size, clearly showing signs of undernourishment. The children were not her own, but all the same, her heart opened up to the poor pitiful looking darlings. How any mother could simply abandon her children was beyond Kione's comprehension. She knew she herself was no role model, but the love she already had for her new little surprises went unmeasurable.
Motioning, she beckoned the new arrivals to her side, any awkwardness of nursing a stranger's cubs lost in the concern over their wellbeing and health. She may not be a mother to these cubs, but there was no reason they could not be given the chance to be raised like any other cub.
That's when it hit her. She'd finally found her job. She was a Minder! Excitement made her giddy with glee, after all this time searching, the perfect role for her had practically fallen into her lap!
Her glee was shortended as she realized what he said. Eight cubs abandoned but... there were only 3... 4 cubs that he brought with him?
After nestling the new babies in with her own, Kione finally returned her gaze towards Sakata. Fearful of what he might reply with, she dared to ask her question anyhow. "You said you only brought some back.... what of the others?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:33 pm
Sakata watches while she gets the new cubs settled, unable to stop himself from noticing (and being concerned) that these older cubs are barely any larger than the newborn ones that the she has at her side. This is a large burden to place on any Minder, let alone a new one, but it is also a good opportunity to prove her worth.
A frown creases his muzzle at her question, a fearsome expression... but it is not meant for her, as he stares through the cavern wall at some unseen point. "There was another lioness with her. That one seemed to care more for the cubs than the mother did, she took them with her." But the tone he uses and the expression on his face make it clear that he would much preferred to have taken them all. Many of them would have made fine Sacrifices, as light as their pelts are.
"The Hunters will make sure that you are fed well enough to have enough milk to feed them all, and I'll talk to one of the older Minders. Have them send someone over to help with their lessons, when they are old enough." And again he rises, preparing to depart.
But then, as if suddenly reminded of the need for propriety, the Warleader casts his gaze over her own cubs. "A fine litter. Many strong new members, and even one who I suspect will be honoured as a new Sacrifice. Congratulations, you've brought honour to yourself and your mate."
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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:49 pm
She sent a silent prayer to the spirits at his words, hoping deep inside that whoever this fellow lioness was, that she'd care for the others just as much as Kione herself intended to care for these new refugees.
It gave both her mind and heart a relief as he spoke of Hunters and Minders. Kione herself had barely begun to understand the ways of the Mizimu'Tungika, much less attempt to introduce the traditions to all of these little ones, but with the aid of others, she knew she could do it. Finally, something she was good at!
She couldn't help but beam at his final words, before his departure from her den. The lioness knew her mate could care less for Sakata's opinion, but it would only be a matter of time before he too would turn around to the ways of this pride. Her little ones were destined for greatness, she could just feel it, and on top of it all, she finally, FINALLY had discovered her proper place among these lions. What a wonderful beginning to a great new adventure.
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