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 Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 10:44 am
-picture will go here when i has tiem-
Tawa'di's sight was becoming less and less detailed as the days passed. He knew he had aged longer than he imagined himself to, but the fact that his Sight seemed to be leaving him was disconcerting. He had depended on it his entire life; now he was having to learn to live without it.
The previous evening he had See a trickle of Tambaa, one of the newer members of the pride. Tawa'di also saw a form that could only be himself speaking to him. As their surroundings didn't stir up any memories, perhaps it was of a future encounter with the fellow. Undeterred, he had decided to seek him out the following morning. Today was that day.
The soft warmth of the morning sun was comforting as the old lion made his way to his destination, the Wolf Clan. His deep green eyes scanned his surroundings as he continued, knowing that it couldn't be too long before they realize he had come. Their old traditional ways of the clans separating for a moon or more had vanished, but at the least they still seemed to travel together as large families.
Ah...there was his target.
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Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 11:49 am
The morning found him breaking away from his family for the moment so that they could each go about their morning routines. His own routine included a bit of solitude; going over the events of the day before in his head while giving himself the motivation he needed to see him through facing his mate and their children again. It was getting easier, more so now as he came to terms with the spirits moving as they wished instead of as he wished them to.
He had taken a deep breath and was just about to turn back to his family when he caught sight of movement in the distance; familiar movement, but movement just the same. "Good morning, Tawa'di."
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Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 5:23 pm
The old lion smiled warmly as he bowed his head. "It is good to see you again. I hope it is safe to assume that everything is going well." He hadn't heard of anything, so he had no expectations to hear otherwise. Still, it was always best to hear it straight from the source.
He let his eyes linger around the male, looking for any signs. Viewing nothing out of the ordinary, the lion took the moment to settle himself down on hus haunches, something that took much longer than the standard time. He...was a little slow in his old age, really, and sometimes it wasn't too comfortable to move really fast. Besides, it would give the other lion time to respond to his question, and not need to rush through anything formal. No one really needed all of that, it only just got in the way of what really mattered. And that was just being friends with everyone.
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Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 11:23 pm
He nodded a slow answer to the elder lion's question. "It is... Save for the search for our son, the rest of the family is settling in nicely. Kindoro seems happy, the young ones have been meeting others their own age... It's what we wanted for them; all of them." He closed his eyes for a moment, opening them as he tilted his head to the sky. "It's just... Been a long road in making our way here, and though we're settling, we still hope that Kivuli finds his way to us one day as well."
Putting his own thoughts aside for the moment he turned his gaze back to the elder lion. "Enough of me and mine... How are you?"
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 9:50 am
He only smiled softly, not wanting to make extra comments about their situation. It might only make him more uncomfortable. Someday everything would set right, but for the moment they could only wait. He offered a small nod of acknowledgement and concern, but continued on.
"I Saw the two of us speaking last night," he said calmly. "Since my Sight has been fading as the moon turns, I figured it might be noteworthy to seek you out today if my eyes blessed me with just that hint of future."
His tail twitched as he thought about it. "It is unknown what we were speaking about, but then the future shifts as much as the wind. Besides, there is never fault in searching out a friend for a good conversation."
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 8:24 pm
"We must have been speaking about something worth-while if you were blessed with a vision of it." He chuckled softly. "I don't know what it was myself... Unless I've yet to say whatever it is that prompts it." Then, as if his own words had stirred something, he shifted so that he could get a better look of the elder lion.
"My children mentioned something that I can't say I noticed on my own, until just now... I suppose I should be proud that their powers of observance are more attentive than my own, but." He managed a slight smirk, head tilting to the side slightly. "Everyone that they've met so far has markings, much like your own, some more than others... I suppose there is a story behind them."
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 8:08 am
He chuckled. "When you and your family came to us, I'm sure our tattoos were the last thing on your mind." Indeed, but he knew better then to delve into that.
"There is a story, but there is also importance behind them. We use them to note important times in our lives, good and bad. Even if you meet one you have never seen before, you know all about their lives before words are exchanged." He offered as reassuring smile. "As your family is not native, I'm sure they only read as interesting markings. I'm sure through time and conversation you will learn what most of them mean."
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 5:03 pm
He processed that knowledge for a moment before letting his gaze drift to the elder male's markings once more. There was a story... Amongst all of that? He found himself smiling as he lifted his gaze once more. "I'm certain it often saves the trouble of explaining things to others; they understand just in seeing you and, maybe, know a little of what to expect. It seems... Like a good custom." He nodded slowly. "You must have had many important things happen in your life, Tawa'di."
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 8:59 pm
He chuckled. "Sometimes it does. Other times, it opens up a path for conversation. Even if you can read the story, it's never the full story."
Tail swishing behind him, Tawa'di smiled with pleasure. It was always nice to talk to non-native members; they had more life experiences than he had, and he had gone through things they hadn't. It was always interesting learning more about the world, no matter how old you were.
"You could say I've been through a lot," he said with a laugh. "I am only sad that there is little room to add in the blessings of my children. Alas, I wouldn't give up anything I've been through in the past, no matter how hard it was. Even through the worst of tragedies, we grow stronger from them."
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 9:18 pm
He closed his eyes for a moment, nodding slowly at the elder male's oh-so-truthful words. He almost felt aged himself in admitting things like that. He and Kindoro had gone through so much together in their short years, and here they were now...
"Everything that happens makes us who we are; each birth, each death, every step we take from day to day, gains and loses, wishes and dreams." He seemed almost wistful, releasing a deep breath as he opened his eyes once more. "I wouldn't trade it either, you know... If I gave one moment away I'm sure I'd lose a dozen others. In the end, life is what we chose to make of it."
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 9:36 pm
Tawa'di's eyes studied the male with his deep breath, mildly curious. Even if you were told many important things, one did not share everything. He was as curious as a cub at times. As long as his own kids didn't know just how curious though, he would be safe.
He smiled warmly, directly at him. "Everything you said is labelled on our bodies. Instead of scars, we wear our tattoos proudly, remembering those times to keep our chins up." His tail tip swished on the ground, mild excitement growing in his chest. "You understand their signifigance. With that understanding comes acceptance, and respect."
He knew he could continue on, but diverted to the point. "If there is something you would like to always remember, you should mark it forever on your body."
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Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 8:47 am
"There are many things that I would like to always remember." He nodded slowly, keeping his thoughts to himself for a moment as he searched for the right words to voice them; a beginning to the story that had set him on the path that had eventually lead him here. "It all started when I met Kindoro..."
Over the course of what seemed like forever he shared his story with the elder lion, starting with the same tale he'd once told his children when they'd asked how he met their mother. She had been a member of a pride before and Fate had crossed their paths, altering both of their lives. She'd left with him and they'd traveled together until their first cubs were born, moving on without a place to settle even then. They'd shared various moments of sadness and joy, each moment bringing them closer together, even more so as they worked past the things that had put a temporary wedge between them.
"... And that is everything up until the moment we met you." (( Tattoos by Pach: http://i40.tinypic.com/6e14e1.png XD I figure the story starts up on his shoulder with the hearts, as Tambaa rarely thinks about his life before Kindo, all of the markings between that and the footprints would be the troubles they had at her pride (Mzawa'kondo princess banished for insisting on taking an outsider as her mate), ending with the happy face and sad face as opposite sides of the same path leading to home. XD ))
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Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 9:40 pm
Tawa'di listened quietly as he explained their past together. It was a deep one, and though Tawa'di had hints of things, it clarified many questions he had kept to himself.
"A strong story," he complimented, shifting his weight a bit. "Hopefully a story that ends with the happily ever after, living here." He chuckled at his own comment, his tail curling behind him happily.
"One to remember always, and not just you, but for everyone." He sniffed his nose a bit.
"I'm unsure if you know our full story, but there's many tattoos that cover me telling the story of our old homelands. How many died protecting them from old allies turned enemies, of suffering. Our migration to these lands nearly wiped us out. Strength prevailed, and all the generations survived to build what you see today. While painful, I never want to forget them. I hope the next generations never do, either."
"Aaah, but I probably shouldn't bore you with all of our history. If time permits another time, I would be happy to tell you anything you would like to know. You are of our blood now, and you have a right to the knowledge and history."
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Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 11:35 am
"I have heard bits and pieces, but never the whole story." He'd wondered, of course, but he had never asked, generally used to keeping to himself... Up until recently, it seemed. "One day I would like to hear it." He nodded slowly. "So that maybe one day I can help in passing it on as well so that it isn't forgotten. You're right. The things that make us stronger should never be forgotten."
He took a deep breath, pondering for a moment before releasing it slowly. "Who would I have to see to have my own stories marked for remembrance?"
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 8:30 pm
"If I was younger, I would help you with that," he said with a soft shaking of his head. "I fear my age weakens my concentration, and I doubt you would want shakey lines to stay with you forever." He laughed.
"You could always ask your Alu'nadi. If she can't help you, I am most certain she knows someone who can. As it is an ongoing tradition it shouldn't be too hard to have it done." His tail swished as he smiled. "I would be most pleased to see you with the markings of an Ela'wadiyi."
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