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 Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 8:09 pm
It seemed the more he looked for his sister, the less he saw of her. As cubs Kafara had always been by his side, but lately things were changing between them. The two cubs came from a broken family and supported one another whenever neccesary. Kutunza would never tell his sister he felt this way, but he relied heavily on her friendship. The male was almost entirely dependent on his sister. It was with her cheerful smile that he was able to go through every passing day without his father.
Padding through the pride without any direction, the male let out a loud sigh. It was rare for Kutunza to be so expressive about how he was feeling, but at that very moment he would take comfort from anyone. Looking around, the dark colored male hoped to spot someone friendly for idle conversation. Perhaps he could find someone who looked a bit like his sister...
Zuri was heading back towards the watering hole when she paused to look around spotting what seemed to be another lion. Her tail flickered as she peered at him from a distance before swaying her pacing towards the Male with a curious wonder. She'd run into a fair few rouges, She surely didn't think they'd wander this far into the lands.
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 8:11 pm
The moment Kutunza caught site of the golden female, his eyes lit up with happiness. Could this be Kafara? It was a rather hot day, perhaps she was thirsty and simply forgot to let him know she was heading out! At this thought, the male's meaningless stroll turned into a short sprint. As he neared the female he came to realise that her shade of gold wasn't quite right. Kafara was more a light cream, Kutunza decided. Judging by the way in which the female looked in his direction, the male knew that she had already caught site of him. He was embarassed of how foolish he must have looked running at her with a grin, but rather preferred the idea of an awkward conversation than a lonely walk back to his den.
Continuing forward, Kutunza made his way to the female's side. He was a polite lion and made sure to keep his distance, but he did look her over as though to check and see if he had seen her before. Deciding that she looked new, he made a gesture with his head and smiled, "Good afternoon. I'm Kutunza."
Zuri chuckled, "Afternoon." She said tail flickering as she stopped with a nod. "AuriZuri, but you can call me Zuri if you'd like." She looked around and then pretended not to have noticed the male running towards her.
She noded towards the Watering hole. "Were you headed that way?" She asked curiously.
In his embarassment Kutunza had almost forgotten about the watering hole. Glancing over when she questioned him, the male nodded sheepishly and began in that direction, "Oh yeah. Hot day," he tried to cover his mistake. As he padded over alongside the female, he glanced over towards her again. Many pridelanders had golden fur, but her particular shade seemed familiar. Even the reddish brown of her tail tuft seemed particular to him. Shaking the thought from his mind, he started conversation, eager to get to know this new lioness. "It is a pleasure to meet you AuriZuri. I don't believe I have seen you around."
Once the pair reached the watering hole, Kutunza knelt down to take a drink. It wasn't his original intention, but it was certainly a good idea. Lapping up the water, the male realised how dehydrated he must have been from his long search earlier. His distress at not finding his sister must have masked his thirst.
She smiled, "Yeah it is a hot day. Almost too hot to be thinking as it is." She tilted her head and then shook it.
"No, I've been around. I was born on the out skirts so I don't come much further than the watering hole." She also lapped at the water before sitting down. "Pride rock's not my thing. Too many lions around." She said with a soft sigh.
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 8:13 pm
Kutunza listened as the female answered, shifting his gaze from her to the water so it did not appear as though he was staring. Once he had his fill from the water, he lifted his head and licked his muzzle. Although the water had heated up in the sun, it was certainly enough to quench his thirst. "That's interesting.." Kutunza began, glancing over towards the pridal border. When he was growing up, his older sister Shiri had told him about how she was born at the borders as a rogue cub. It was for that reason that she believed she was destined to join the pridelands. If she hadn't followed her heart she may have never found her mother. Kutunza smiled a bit at the thought. Even with all the trouble his family had gone through it still felt as though things were coming together. They were supposed to have found one another for a reason. Perhaps if Shiri and Meme had never been reunited he might never been born? Interesting thought.
Realising that he had been quiet for a brief moment, the male let out a nervous laugh. "Oh, sorry about that.. Mind was wandering. My older sister was born on the borders. It is why she joined the pride." Thinking back to what else Zuri had said, Kutunza offered his input, "I understand not wanting to submerge yourself in the crowds, but there is safety in numbers. Also a great way to meet people." Kutunza was always happy to offer advice to others, even when he couldn't take the same advice for himself.
Zuri smiled and nodded, "I know, though I've sort of been a loner. Since I dont know what happened to my father or brother. They're likely still around here just not where I am." She smiled sweetly.
"I'm just trying to figure things out. In a large group it's hard to do such you know?" She paused, "Not to mention you meet some interesting friends."
Zuri's words seemed to reflect much of how Kutunza was currently feeling. He wanted to do what the female was doing and simply escape and figure things out, but he felt he had an obligation to his family. With so much already going on he didn't want to add heartache from his disappearance. That was where Kafara came in for the male. She was someone he could lean on when things became difficult. Even though they didn't talk much about their feelings their conversations really helped Kutunza. With Kafara gone the male had bottled up too much anxiety and stress with no way to let it out.
Hearing Zuri speak managed to calm Kutunza for a moment. Taking a seat where he was, the male let out an approving nod. "I sort of understand what you mean. I come from a massive family so we don't usually have much time to ourselves. I love my siblings and neices and nephews, but it's hard to think at all about yourself when you're always putting others first." Kutunza stopped. Why was he opening up to this stranger? He couldn't even open up to his family and here he was putting his worries onto someone else. Folding his ears back, the male added, "I don't mean to complain... Do you think there is anything I might be able to help you with?"
Zuri looked at him sideways with a curious stare, her brow was lofted. She shook her head, "No, though I assume we're in a slightly simiular situation." She chuckled for a moment.
However after that chuckle was a sigh. "See the thing is I never knew my mother. So, I mean really who knows where I belong." Her tail flickered as she looked down into the water. "For all I know I could be just another one of the rouge briths, where my mother didn't want me."
She grinned, "So you have no worrys in complaing, I oddly understand more than you'd think I would."
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 8:36 pm
Zuri's story caused the male's fur to stand on end. It sounded so much like his sister Shiri's and he was certain she could help this female so much more than he could. She had come to embrace her upbringing because of what it molded her into. What would Shiri say in this situation? What was it that she did that had helped her out? With his ears still lowered, the male offered a concerned expression towards the female. It was clear that he wanted to help her, but wasn't quite sure of what he could do or say to make things better. "I understand that family is important... but you need to think of yourself. Your mother won't decide where you belong." Kutunza felt bold saying what he did, but he really felt that it was true. He felt a missing part of himself because of his father's absense, but knew that no matter where Abedari was, his place was in the pridelands with his sisters.
When she made a comment about her mother not wanting her it hit very close to home. As Kutunza grew he came to realise how much his father loved their mother. He knew Abedari cared about him as well, but it seemed as though he had a litter with Meme to prove a point and not because he wanted to. With an upset expression, Kutunza tried to offer more comfort, "You shouldn't think that way. Maybe your mother was unable to care for you at the time? Maybe she was in trouble and needed to hide you? I am sure she would have cared for you if she could..."
Their conversation was brief, but Kutunza felt a deep connection with what Zuri was saying. It seemed fate had played its cards and it was time that the male finally considered himself and how he was feeling. Realising that this female needed more than he could say, the male approached her cautiously and offered a light head nudge to show that he was there to support her if he needed it. They were strangers, but Kutunza understood what it was like to need someone and be alone.
Zuri blinked for a second and grinned, "Aw, that's sweet." Was about the only thing she could think of she noticed his expression and frowned slightly trying to think of something to cheer him, her head tilted.
Of course without much of an answer she ended up turning to look up at the sky. Finding one small could there she flicked her tail listening to him in thoughtfulness. She blinked when he nudged her and she grinned, "Funny thing about being alone."
She said and then paused for a second trying to choose the words. "It makes a lion funny sometimes. either wanting a bit of company or someone to talk to...." She paused again. "Or just wistful for someone to sit and watch the clouds and the stars with them."
She turned her head, she returned the nudge with a tail flicker and a spark of her old personality. "When I was a cub. I met this one other cub, White with yellow markings. I think, if I recall right she had some black in her too. We layed on the ground for who knows how long watching the clouds."
She grinned, "Somethings, like the clouds, make me miss the days when I was younger and didn't worry about where I belonged."
She grinned, "I guess time just sometimes widdles away at what you think is real. My father never mentioned my mother." She added softly, "Maybe I am silly for thinking the way I do. However, sometimes one can't help but wonder if what they think is right."
After the comforting nudge, Kutunza backed off and listened to Zuri. She sounded so insightful with the way she spoke. It was comforting to the male. Kutunza then took a seat beside her leaving enough distance to keep her comfortable. At the same time, the space was small enough that she could bridge the gap if she needed a shoulder to lean on. While his behavior might have been strange for the typical first meeting, Kutunza was a very affectionate, friendly male always looking out for others. When he saw the female in need, he couldn't shy away.
As Zuri continued, Kutunza couldn't help but wonder if she was talking about herself. Did she mean that she wanted company and someone to talk to? Did she enjoy Kutunza's company? Kutunza looked up towards the single cloud she was watching, feeling himself fall back into the grass. He released a light sigh feeling at peace at the moment. Whether or not she meant to direct anything to him she was certainly right about everything she was saying.
When she returned the nudge, Kutunza felt a warmth inside him. He had heard about these feelings from his older sister Shiri and although he knew he wasn't in love, he couldn't help but feel entirely comfortable with the female. Despite her desire to find herself Kutunza believed she was already found.
Making himself comfortable in the grass, the male continued to watch the sky as he spoke. "I don't think you're silly... It sounds like you think a lot. There is nothing wrong with that. There is a peace in the simplicity of the clouds and the sky above us. Something calming." He shut his eyes for a moment and relaxed. Oh, it felt good to be away from home on his own. Opening his eyes again, he leaned over to look at Zuri, "Instead of trying to find something you're missing.. why not create it? Who is to say you can't decide where you belong?"
Zuri tilted her head curious. Flexing a paw in the ground softly playing with bits of the dirt. "Well who knows where I belong if I haven't been anywhere else to know?" She looked around her. Softly, before looking towards him.
"Sometimes even the smallest change of sencery changes the minds." She looked around again, "I met another cub. One when I was older...." She said with a pause. "She'd ran away from home, or gotten lost. I forgot why she was out here. Well she certainlly wasn't a cub but wasn't that old either. I think she was mixed between a lion and leopard as well."
Her tail flickered, "The one thing I know is that she was looking for something. I'm not sure if she ever returned home. But I have a feeling it was something she couldn't find there."
Zuri paused again, "Or well it was something she believed she couldn't find there. I don't know if she ever returned. However, it makes me wonder sometimes if I go exploreing would I find where I really wanted to be." She stood up for a second and streatched before letting herself lay down faceing the river.
"I'd atleast like to try to find my mother. However, I suppose that's impossible considering I don't even know her name."
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 9:24 pm
Kutunza said up a bit to show Zuri that he'd been listening to everything she'd said. He nodded as she spoke and carefully took it all in. She was right. There were some things you just couldn't find at home and there was no way to know other than go out and find it yourself. When she had finished, he responded, "I don't think it is impossible for you to find her, but without any leads you can't really go out and look for her. I would say follow your heart and go where your feet take you. Perhaps you'll find it's something else you're looking for entirely."
Looking out towards the roguelands, Kutunza smiled. That border had always looked so daunting as a cub, but now that he was almost an adult he saw it as something else. It was simply a line each cub needed to learn to cross as they matured. It was the line that separated their everyday lives with the unknown. He couldn't ever imagine having the courage to leave home on his own, but it sounded as though Zuri might be happier if she at least tried.
Returning his gaze to the female, he smiled. "I don't think any harm would come if you did try to find what you were looking for. Worst case, you always have a place to return to."
She chuckled, "Maybe after a while it wouldn't be a worse case." She grinned looking back at him.
"I mean after all, there's always friends to return to right?" One of her ears were perked up while the other was relaxed back just kind of chilling off to the side giving her a slightly funny looking expression.
However no matter how silly it looked it still asked if he agreed with her. "I mean, after all even though I hang out alot by myself, I love meeting new people." She nodded with another grin.
Kutunza wasn't sure exactly what was going on between them, but something was certainly different. He had met various cubs around the pridelands when he was younger, but for some reason he thought Zuri was special. Perhaps it was their instant connection or maybe how much they had it common, but whatever the case, Kutunza knew he wanted to hear from her if she ever came back. When she commented that it wouldn't be a worst case scenario, he smiled. Was she talking about him?
The way Zuri hinted to things, but never actually said them added mystery to her character. It seemed to allow her to say anything she wanted to say without actually saying it. Kutunza wondered if this made it easier for her. "Of course. You always have friends waiting here for you. Friends that would probably love to see you again if you ever come around.." Kutunza couldn't help but chuckle. Was this what his sister explained to him as flirting? His tail waved about behind him in excitement.
She grinned and nodded. "Of course."
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