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 Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 8:28 am
Tepe had taken to lingering in his den for as much of the day as he could. He made no secret of where he hid, often letting a paw or his tail hang lazily out the opening. Now was not the time to suddenly turn up scarce. But he didn't want to deal with the Simo. Not now, not anymore. Too many words had been had, he'd seen how they looked at him. He was small, a bit introverted...They weren't accepting him. Regardless of if he'd be accepted into the pride, the members themselves were judging him.
And all because of his damn size. He sighed, the sound echoing in the den. Why couldn't he have been larger? For a moment his thoughts wandered. Had his parents been large? Hard as he tried to imagine how they must have looked, all that came to mind were Siri and...well Epesi he could block out. He frowned to himself. Siri had been better lately, more happy, more like herself. That made him happy. But things still weren't how he'd like them to be.
Another sigh. When would all this madness just be over and done with?
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 4:57 pm
The days were getting tougher and tougher, and she was fluctuating between being happy and being sad. When she was with Vlam, she had been rather happy, but news had reached her that Vlam had been attacked. Those she had sought out as partners were getting hurt, and even killed. First it was Epesi, though she hadn't really felt for him, and now Vlam (though she had only really physically desired him). It was enough to make any young lioness worried, and a slight bit paranoid.
Siri tried her best to push those thoughts down and away. She wanted to be in a good mood, she wanted to enjoy the Firekin lands, which she had been reluctant to join in the beginning. With the taste of murder on the air, though, it was hard to see what was so good here, besides all the excellent and handsome males that inhabited the desert. Maybe her son would be able to take her mind off of things. He had comforted her earlier, like any son would.
It did not take her long to find him, the tip of his tail just peeking out of a den. "Tepe?" she questioned, peering inquisitively into the den.
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Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 1:32 pm
Tepe startled at the sound of a voice; he'd begun to doze off into a land of unpleasant dreams wrought of the heat and his misery. He jolted to his feet, forgetting he was in the cave, and cracked his head sharply off the den's ceiling. "Oww!" He snarled, hunkering down and rubbing at the sore spot. He glared over his shoulder at whomever had disturbed him. Seeing Siri's paws out the mouth of the den (he'd know her markings anywhere) his scowl faded and he bit back the less than kind words he'd been about to let fly. "Yes mother?"
He turned around carefully and moved to lay with his front half out the den. He blinked in rapid succession at the change from dark to light. He looked up at Siri, much of his earlier worry fading off. Siri liked him, she didn't tease him. So what if the rest of the Simo thought he was tiny? She never said he was small. "How are you, mother?"
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Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 1:58 pm
Siri visibly winced at the 'thump' sound, imagining that whatever Tepe had managed to do, it was unpleasant. She hadn't intended to startle him, but that was life. "You okay?" she asked, and could just barely keep the smile out of her voice and off of her face. It was a little amusing, and she'd take what she could find in happiness these oncoming days. Everything was so dark and glum that the littlest things helped to make her days better.
"I'm fine," she replied as she sat down in front of Tepe. Something looked... off with him. Call it 'mother's intuition', but yes, there was definitely something wrong with her son. Something had upset him, and she was on the scent... she was going to find out what was going on. "Are you okay, dear? You don't look so well. I know it's been hard for all of us lately, but I promise that I'll be here for you if you need me, like you promised me." Hopefully that would get him to open up, and if not, and if her intuition was wrong... well, whoops. Siri knew should could cover up the blunder, and that her son wouldn't blame her for assuming that he was upset.
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Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 6:04 pm
"Yeah, I'm fine I'm fine..." Never mind that it felt like there was a bump the size of a cub on his his head. He rubbed at it with a paw and winced. That would going to sting for a good while, likely. He smiled up at Siri and nodded. It was good to see her mood had swung around so well. The loss of Epesi had hurt her, he knew, but he would have felt terrible if it had been a lasting ache. She was his mother and he wanted her to be happy.
"I said I'm fine mother," He chuckled, thinking she still meant his head at first. She went on though, and his expression soured. A sigh escaped him and he dropped his head to rest it on his paws. Should he tell her what he'd been thinking? Of course, she was his mom after all...He'd expected her to talk to him, could he lie to her? Say it was all fine?
"Honestly...I don't think the lions here think I'm worthy. At first I was sure I was but...now I don't know. I'm so much smaller..." Maybe hearing himself belittled so much had made him start to believe it too.
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Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 6:23 pm
Ah, her mother's intuition had been correct - something was upsetting Tepe. The lioness, figuring that she'd be with her son for a good while, moved to lay down beside him, shoulder-to-shoulder to give him the intimacy of a private discussion. She was not the most patient of lionesses, but Tepe was her son, and for him she'd do anything. She'd cheer him up by any means, and listen to his troubles so that she could properly reassure him that all was well.
She frowned, ears cocked forward as she listened to her son. "I don't think size is all that matters, Tepe..." she said softly, inclining her head towards the small male. "I don't think that is all that makes a Firekin. Besides, it doesn't matter what they think, right?" She brought that characteristic smile back onto her face. "I think you're worthy, and if you think it too, if you really believe it, then you'll truly be worthy yourself. Don't let their opinions get in your way. There's a lot of stuff going on right now, and they're probably being more judgmental because of it." Siri explained, genuinely wishing her son would believe in himself enough that the opinions of others didn't matter. She wanted the best for him, and right now that was being accepted by the Firekin members, which they most likely would not do if Tepe wasn't confident in himself and his abilities.
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Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 6:43 pm
Everything Siri said Tepe had heard in his head or been told before. He'd believed it well enough from time to time, and hearing it once more, especially from Siri, made it special. He sighed. "I know. Things are strange for them. For us. They're all so haughty and proud...and stubborn though!" He was thinking back on the red male who'd tried to fight him before. "It's almost like they're stupid from being so sure of themselves. It's...frustrating."
It really had worn his patience thin. Why would they want to join a pride of lions like these? Sure they were strong and regal looking, but if they were to be constantly belittled...well maybe once they were official members things would go more as normal.
"I don't doubt myself mother, I just fear they might not give me the chance to prove my worth."
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Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 7:04 pm
"That's how they are, and though we may not like all of it, we're choosing to live here and so... we just have to deal. Besides, not all of them are bad..." Her voice drifted off a little as she thought of Vlam, who definitely wasn't all that bad. He may be a typical firekin, but she had enjoyed her time spent with him. Vlam had distracted her from all of her troubles, and that had earned him some of her favor. Yes, he definitely wasn't that bad of a Firekin at all...
"You'll have your chance, and when you get it you'll prove them all wrong. Have a little faith in your mother, mmm?" She reached out and pushed playfully on Tepe's shoulder. It was time for him to cheer up, and to believe in himself and in her words. She wouldn't leave him be until she saw him happy, no matter how long that took. "I promise you that when your time comes, you'll show every last one of them who looked down on you all the reasons they should look up to you."
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Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 5:07 pm
Oh he'd like that. Tepe schooled his face into a calm smile, but inside he was imagining the look on that damned red lion's face when he bested him. He was startled out of his thoughts when Siri pushed him, and he laughed and pushed her back. "I trust you mom, come on!" He nudged her again, his smile well and truly returned. "I will show them."
"After all, these lions have never left their home...we know more, and that make us better. We can handle things they can't. Sure they're bigger, but I'm sure it'll be fine. You at least will make it." He licked Siri's cheek fondly. "You always were a good fighter!"
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Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:19 pm
"That's the attitude you need!" she purred, pleased that she had gotten through her son enough that he was going to listen to her and trust and have his faith in himself. This was the duty of a mother, to make sure her child grew up into a strong lion, was happy, and believed in himself. "You will, I have faith in you. You'll show every last one of them just how much more of a Firekin you are then they are."
She leaned against his shoulder, and let her head rest into his mane. It was comfortable, like this, and with Tepe's mood seeming to be on the upside of things, she felt better. When Tepe was upset... she naturally got worried. He was her baby, and she'd take care of him the best she could. "We've definitely experienced more, gone through more. We've lived our lives traveling, getting stronger... Yeah, I have no doubt you'll make a fine Firekin."
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:11 pm
Tepe could feel his heart pump and pound harder in his chest as Siri leaned against him. Her support was one of the most important things in the world to him, and that he knew he had it...well he was feeling pretty good right about now. He nosed her gently and could almost feel his chest puff with pride. He'd make her proud, no matter the costs. He'd join her here in these strange hard lands and see that both he and she were happy. Once they were members and all this recent mess was forgotten he was sure that they'd fit right in.
"Thank you for all your help, Siri...It really does mean a lot to me."
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