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 Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 6:31 pm
Mishenka had never learned the graceful movements of her past adoptive pride, their fluid dance through the moonlight achingly dissimilar to her own jerky forays through the land. Completely giving up on stalking in the shadows, as her pelt gave her away as soon as her paws hit a patch of moonlight, Mishenka began to hum to herself. It had been the first time in many nights that she had felt comfort from the land, the grasses once again dewed with the nightly rains that Mishenka had found herself missing through her forays in the dried out, deadly savanna.
Mishenka was no idiot- where there was rain, there was surely another pride, and she toyed with the idea of making her presence clearly known to whomever was watching her; though there was no physical representation of a barrier between the pride lands and the lands that Mishenka walked on, the lands to her left looked rather... lived in. Her humming taking on a happy tone, Mishenka headed to her left, and shouted gaily to the heavens.
"What ho!"
She wasn't an idiot. But she lacked a great deal of common sense and propriety.
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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 6:58 pm
Nuksani was freshly returned to the lands, or rather, she had been back home for a few days, enough time to reacquaint herself with her family and friends. The change had been so clear, so evident within her that it didn't go un-noted. Months earlier the lioness had set out of the Kunanda'Nakhun with one of her sisters to cure an ailment that had plagued her since childhood. Nuksani, since the time she could remember, had always seen floating orbs, had always had them plaguing her vision. When she was young, she didn't realize how... unusual it was. But as she grew into the young lioness she was now, she realized how much it alienated her from others.
So, she had to change it.
And she had.
Her vision was perfectly clear, her mind just as clear from the voices that had haunted it before, and it was blissful, this silence that had never existed beforehand. Occasionally she felt 'off', even alone from the lack of her childhood companions. But, this was for the better, and she knew it. She could build a better life for herself, and her ambitions were high. Maybe she picked it up in the short time she had spent with her mother, but Nuksani didn't want to be just another lioness. She wanted to be something more important, someone that would be remembered in the generations to come.
With a smile to herself, she wandered through the jungle that provided a shield for the Kunanda'Nakhun from the outside world. Lions that accidentally wandered through it often got lost, and it was often up to the members of the pride to guide them out or accept them into their numbers. While the jungle was always a lively area, it seemed more so at that moment. With an arched brow, Nuksani listened to the loud voice that punctuated the air, already deciding that she'd investigate. It wouldn't do to leave anyone lost in the jungle, either way.
"Hello." It sounded like an idle greeting, curiosity devoid from her voice. As bright as she was, she stood out from the greens of the forest, and thus didn't bother concealing herself. She was large, which more than contributed to her status as Rawal, but she didn't use it to be intimidating. It didn't seem like she had to be with this lioness.
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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 8:18 pm
Mishenka moved closer to the divide, and smiled at the lioness who had greeted her. She was bright- even brighter than her own luminous pelt and Mishenka was somewhat taken aback by her size- rather larger than the slight Mishenka.
"Mishenka," she stated clearly and quietly, a smile playing on her maw. Curiousity getting the better of her, she stepped clear across the divide, and moved her head around, trying to get a better view of her greeter, "I've traveled for a rather long while, and I am absolutely famished. My manners are atrocious, forgive me. Where am I, by the way?"
Content with her eyeful, Mishenka settled down on her haunches and licked her paw lightly. It wouldn't do to upset her greeter needlessly.
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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 8:27 pm
The lioness seemed polite enough, Nuksani observed, though without a doubt she'd have to keep a close eye on her. "Nuksani. You are in the Kunanda'Nakhun, and it would be our pleasure to see that you don't starve here in our jungle." Besides, drawing the lioness back into the heart of the pride would mean there would be more eyes to keep on her while she stayed with them. It would be up to Mishenka whether she wanted to stay or leave, for it was doubtless that in her time in the pride she would learn all about them.
Nuksani just had to get her back to the main part of the pride, and maybe take her to one of the queens. They were more apt to deal with the rogues that happened to stumble upon their land by accident. Nuksani wasn't quite the skilled diplomat, since she had just returned home, and would rather be spending some time with her sisters and the friends she had almost casually left behind.
"Your manners seem well and fine, so don't worry." She shook her round yellow head, and it was clear that she was a strong, healthy lioness in the prime of her life. While Mishenka sat, she remained standing, not feeling in the least bit like she wanted to let her guard down yet.
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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 8:48 pm
"Oh poo," Mishenka waved her paw airily, a cross expression on her face, "Don't look so alarmingly apt and at the ready- I'm not about to leap at you, for what sort of a dinner would you be?" Pausing, Mishenka gave her another once over, "Chewy. I think you'd be rather chewy."
Standing up, Mishenka stretched, her muscles weary from her travels. She had no ulterior motives, and was a rather happily vapid young lioness- until you cornered her. She had a large temper, but it took awhile to irk her to the point of actually being angry. She was generally in a good mood and this terse, strong lioness did nothing to dampen it. The idea of a fresh dinner, and perhaps some stimulating company (for Mishenka loved to laugh) was the best news that she had had all throughout her travels. Her leaving the Umande'mfuni was still rather foggy in her memory, her reasoning still rather unclear- it had just seemed like a good idea at the time and Mishenka was rather embarrassed that such a whim could make her up and drop her life. To be honest, Mishenka had been very unhappy and not at all content with herself- she always felt that something was missing- SOMEONE was missing from her life.
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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:15 pm
Her eyes narrowed subtly, but she wasn't going to let Mishenka rub her fur the wrong way. The way that Nuksani viewed it was simple, she wasn't going to let her guard down around a stranger. She had been rather sheltered in the Kunanda'Nakhun, but traveling through the rogue lands had opened her eyes up to some of the dangers of not having a pride behind your back to keep you safe. So, she'd take as many precautions as she liked, and she would assume that Mishenka would just deal with it. "It's good to be on one's guard," she replied with a roll of her eyes. This lioness was quite evidently far more lighthearted than she was, more carefree, and a little more... quirky. Well, she wouldn't have been if Nuksani was still under the influence of her ailment, but now that Nuksani was cured... yes, she could safely say this lioness was quirky.
"I rather like a chewy meal every once in a while," she commented with a simple shrug. Jerking her head in the direction of the pride, she ushered Mishenka to lead the way, or just walk beside her, even, "That's the way to the center of the pride, where you'll have a good meal, and I can introduce you to one of the queens." Nuksani would feel more comfortable if even Usha took over seeing to the lioness. With a sigh, she remarked to herself that she really had been away from home for far too long.
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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:34 pm
Following Nuksani's lead, Mishenka plodded on beside her, tripping over several errant roots.
"But to be on your guard all the time... What's the fun of that? I rather like guards though. All muscular..." Mishenka sighed heavily, and was forced to run to catch up to Nuksani.
"First meetings are important! We shall always be friends- you can call me Misha. What can I call you?"
Stopping a little suddenly, Mishenka licked her maw nervously.
"Qu-Queens?" She called, a little quaver in her voice. In Umande Mishenka had not been important enough to meet any in the royal family- to be thrust in to such a light all of a sudden chilled her to her very bones.
"What if they don't like me?" Mishenka said miserably, hurrying to catch up.
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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:45 pm
"I'm not on guard all of the time," she replied, silently implying that she was only on her guard around her, though it was really that way with all the strangers she met. While Mishenka managed to fall behind, she rolled her eyes, her own pace slightly faster than casual. Not once did she miss her step, or get tangled in the undergrowth of the jungle. She knew the jungle by heart, and this was her element, where she was most comfortable. If she wanted to lose Mishenka, it was quite possible that she could do it within seconds. But, she wasn't that way, not nearly so mean enough to drop a lioness off in the middle of the jungle to get lost in. She had her manners.
"You may call me Nuksani." Her voice took on a dole tone, though she wasn't adverse to becoming friends with Mishenka. She was just going to keep her guard up until Mishenka was settled in, or until she left the lands for some place else that was more suited to her. She was bright, but she wasn't quite as large as the other lionesses in the pride, who were bred for strength of body and mind.
Glancing over her shoulder, she arched a brow at the other lioness. "Yes, queens. Don't look so scared, they're not going to slit your throat on sight. They're nice, and I'm sure you'll manage to keep from irritating them. You seem like you have some amount of intelligence to you." Not really, but Nuksani did try to be reassuring.
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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 10:06 pm
Mishenka was used to walking through flat, lush lands not this overgrown forest, and it was frankly bothering her. She used to pride herself on her ability to outrun most things in any situation, and while her expression and manner was all airy and carefree her eyes darted wildly, hoping ferverently that Nuksani wasn't leading her somewhere to become dinner- she had been rather put off with that other pride, whatsitcalled- the mizimu. Nasty lot, them.
"Haha, very nice. Perhaps they'll like me for the sparkles in my eye," Skipping up to Nuksani, Mishenka controlled her movements and became a plodding, haughty lioness- a mirrored exaggeration of Nuksani's own gait and expression, "Or will this do better."
Lowering her voice, Mishenka gave a haughty shake of her fur.
"I'm ready to meet the Queen's- and I'll try not to embarass you too much, " Mishenka spoke quietly, almost chillingly. Steeling herself again, Mishenka fell silent, her gait hurried to keep in pace with Nuksani.
"I am aware that I am rather silly," Mishenka confided in Nuksani quietly, controlling her urges to dance around the jungle happily, "I am also aware this is rather disadvantageous- do not worry though. If I am needed for anything, I will be your lioness- I am not silly all of the time," Mishenka said, echoing Nuksani's own words.
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Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 9:52 am
She wasn't quite sure if Mishenka was mocking her or just being flat-out stupid. Nuksani decided to give her the benefit of the doubt, and resolved to believe that she was just stupid, or even trying too hard to be impressive and was falling flat on her rear for the attempt. "I'm sure that as long as you are yourself, and not an imitation of what you think you should be, you'll do fine." It was quickly getting to the point that Nuksani had to remind herself to be polite to the lioness, since she couldn't help but feel affronted by Mishenka's ridiculous behavior.
"I'm sure you'll do a wonder with that," she replied, voice thick with the sarcasm she allowed to leak through. Her expression was flat, but Mishenka had fallen behind again, so it was doubtful that the lioness would know the extent to which she was annoying her guide.
"Without a doubt you are," and glancing to her side, she sized up Mishenka briefly. All the lioness had going for her, in Nuksani's blunt opinion, was beauty. She was definitely pretty, and her past life had been a good one, if the color of her pelt was anything to say about it. She'd blend in well in the Kunanda'Nakhun, even if all the lionesses knew each other well enough to be able to pick out the new lions and the strangers to their land. "I'm sure I won't need you for anything, don't be so silly as to say that you'll be my lioness."
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Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 10:12 am
"Fine," Mishenka said, pouting prettily, "but you'll rue the day when you realize you need me, desperately... Oh bother, I'd still come. I couldn't leave a friend in the lurch!"
Touchy, touchy, Mishenka thought to herself, but hurriedly resumed her usual carefree appearance- Nuksani couldn't take a joke, that was for sure. She liked the sternness, it reminded her of her mother, who always commented on how Mishenka could not take anything seriously. No matter the heavy sarcasm and the obvious, terse replies, Mishenka felt safe in these lands- and wanted to make sure that she could stay though meeting the queen's was making her extremely nervous.
"How do you know how I should act, how I am myself? I'm nervous," Mishenka's slightly angry reply seemed to be directed at the ground in front of her, rather than Nuksani, "and I haven't had contact with other lions in weeks. I'm just happy to see another lion, is all."
Mishenka gave the worst first impressions, and now she feared that Nuksani didn't even want to be her acquaintance, let alone her friend.
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Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 10:21 am
They were getting closer to the heart of the Kunanda'Nakhun, the dense jungle undergrowth thinning subtly. It wasn't much, but it was enough to tell her that they were close, and she could get Mishenka a meal and tell her to rest for a little while. The Kunanda'Nakhun weren't hostile to outsiders, when the outsiders themselves weren't any sort of theat. Nuksani believed that, without a doubt, Mishenka would be no harm for the pride. Who knew? Maybe they could even convince her to stay within these lands. Any clan would take Mishenka in, would probably welcome the new member with open paws. "I am sure that I won't need you so badly that you'll have to come to my rescue."
She ducked her head out of the way of a hanging vine, her movements seemingly effortless in the dense jungle foliage. "Don't be nervous. I'm going to take you to my clan's den, where you can rest before you see the Queens, and get a good meal." Of course, she wasn't sure how much reassuring Mishenka would work at this point. The lioness seemed resolved to be anxious.
"I understand. I just got back from a trip to the rogue lands. Of course, my sister came with me, so I wasn't exactly alone, but compared to pridal life it is rather different." There, hopefully sympathizing with Mishenka would help to soothe the other lioness' nerves.
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Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 10:39 am
Mishenka breathed a tad easier, happy to have a small reprieve before meeting the queen's. She had a feeling that at least Nuksani was giving her the benefit of the doubt, and Mishenka hoped with a meal inside her and a little rest she would not be quite as silly- an empty hope, that.
"You never know what the future holds, my dear- and not everything is about fighting," Grinning merrily, Mishenka began to step over roots easier, more aware that they were there.
There was a distinct sound of rushing water, and a lot of female voices- but very few male voices, at least loud ones. Looking at Nuksani questioningly, Mishenka followed her in to the heart of the pride, her eyes almost blinded by the strength and beauty of the fur of this pride- for once, her distinctly bright coat would not be a detriment to her, merely one of many more bright ones. Eyes shining, Mishenka followed Nuksani, too overwhelmed to say much.
"I come from a large pride as well, though its very far away. I never thought I would miss the feeling, especially that of sisterhood," Answering the question that Nuksani hadn't spoken, Mishenka went on, "there is no torrid reason why I left, from our short meeting you probably have already guessed I'm rather useless. They liked the dark. I liked the light. Its as simple as that."
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Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 11:32 am
"Did I ever give you the impression that I believed everything was about fighting? I don't pretend to know what the future holds for me." A low growl developed in her throat, unable to hide her irritation with the lioness. She was tired of the 'my dears' and the assumptions Mishenka placed upon her in such short time. But, she'd try to keep her irritation under control. Nuksani had fought before with other lionesses, she wasn't known for it, but she defended herself with an iron paw. With her illness now gone, she was hoping that the rumors of her craziness would die down. It wasn't a huge deal to a pride so large, but it was enough to bother her. While she was a cub and a juvenile, she had been perfectly oblivious to the problems that resided in her mind, but at adolescence she grew conscious of it. It had bothered her a great deal, enough for her to change it. Now that she had, she wasn't as willing to deal with others' poor opinions of her, especially when the lions who developed said opinions were vocal with them and did not know her.
The jungle cleared, revealing a large opening with plenty of lionesses and dens. Nodding and smiling to a few of them, she led Mishenka through the pride. The males were on the far side, out of view where it was best for them. To her clan's den she brought Mishenka, gesturing inside with a short nod of her head. "You never realize how much you want or need something until it is gone. I have no reason to ask you about your past pridal life, nor do I really want to. You don't have to share that with me." She had calmed down again, her irritation hidden away, though it still lurked underneath the surface. Nuksani was hoping that her little outburst would be dismissed, but she doubted it.
"You may rest here. I'll send someone else in with you who'll bring food. I'm going to have to go and tell someone you're here." Someone who'd bring the news to the queens so that they would know an outsider was being taken care of inside of the pride. Perhaps Hurul-Ayni would be best, since she was accessible enough.
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Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 12:04 pm
The growl wasn't unnoticed by Mishenka, who hung her head. Her tongue had again got the better of her mind, and she had put her paw in it yet again.
"Sorry," she mumbles, and said not a word as Nuksani left her behind. Sitting near the mouth of the den, Mishenka fought the urge to cry, feeling just as lonely as ever without the companion she had forced herself on to. She hoped that she wouldn't cause the queen's any grief with her presence, and hoped that at least she would be able to stay for a few days before her silliness wore the others out. Nuksani didn't seem to be the type to out her as a useless, silly sack of fur; she seemed too mighty and noble to do such a thing and Mishenka felt horrible for supposing things about her that seemed to have upset Nuksani. Feeling rather alone, Mishenka lay down and cradled her head with her paws, watching and waiting for Nuksani to come back.
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