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 Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 8:53 am
Dayo sighed, twitching and fidgeting restlessly. Jua had gone off on her own, saying only it was something she needed to do and she'd return as soon as possible. He knew it had to do with the traditions of the pride, he'd at least learned that much. But it didn't make him miss his mate any less when she would go off exploring without him. With another sigh, he flopped over onto his other side, idly watching an insect fly by his nose.
Finishing her inspection of the tiny cave, Jua nodded with a deep satisfaction. She didn't need it yet, but the tiny kicks and squirms she felt in her belly told her that she was going to need this place soon. Now, provided that another soon-to-be mother didn't claim this place before Jua's time, she could rest easy knowing that she was following the tenets of the pride that had accepted her and Dayo. Glancing up at the sun, she picked her way across the small ribbon of dry ground that led back to the main pride area.
Humming contentedly, she went back to her mate.
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Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:14 am
The dark khaki coloured lioness limped across familiar ground. It had been many moons since she had trod this path but she remembered the faint scent of decaying things and the wonderful mist that floated around her paws. She felt old. She had travelled for so long her eyes had almost forgotten what the swamps looked like. Home.Her permanent travelling companion skipped at her side, the small genet laughed and galavanted, rolling occasionally in something smelly "Kina...uh Lawanda, it's good to be back!" The genet professed diving in to some muddy water happily.Kinamasi, well, that wasn't her name anymore, it was almost strange hearing the old name spoken, like it didn't belong to her any more, lawanda, that was her name now. She pauses for a moment as a white lioness caught her gaze, a ghost perhaps? A spirit in the swamps? She had always been a great believer but things wern't always what they seemed.
"Hello." She calls quietly limping quite ably across the thin hard line of the swamps, she had lived with the game fore leg her whole life, it never stopped her from moving.
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Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:21 am
Jua jumped slightly at the soft call, then peered through the mist and saw another lioness limping toward her.
"Oh! Hello there! I'm sorry, I didn't see you before. I'm not intruding on your den, am I?"
That was all she needed... to be seen as an intruder to another's area. Still, this lioness didn't seem angry or upset. Looking a little more closely, she saw the genet and decided that if it could frisk happily around the strange lioness, there likely wasn't any danger from her. Racking her brain, she dredged up the tidbit that all pride members born to the pride had to leave for a time to find their true names. Since this lioness wasn't at all familiar, Jua decided she was a returning pilgrim.
"I'm Jua'mwinbaji, but please just call me Jua," she introduced herself. "I'm just on my way back to the main den, if you'd like to go with me?"
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Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:33 am
Kina....Lawanda, looked at the lioness and smiled a gentle smile. "Very nice to meet you." She whispers, her voice a little rough around the edges but still kind enough. She did not recognise this face so presumed it must simply be a new comer to the pride. Not that, that was particularily surprising, she had been away for a long time, and it was the reaon for her new name.
"I would like that, it has been a while since I have been here, I went on a vey long pilgrimage." She chuckles and shakes her dark head quietly. "My name is Lawanda, I used to be known as Kinamasi when I lived here as a cub, were you born to the pride or have you recently come to join the swamp way of life?" She whispers taking a step forwards to stand beside the pale lioness "I thought for a second, you were a spirit of the swamps, it must be murder to keep your fur so prestine." She chuckles.
Kivuli barks a laugh "Lawanda, you sure are daft in the head." She smirks a wide grin and hops up on to the lionesses back settling in a 'riding' possition. "Tis good to be home, I'm Kivuuli and I'v been stuck with this here limpin fluff ball for several years." The Genet grins and nods a friendly greeting.
"Don't mind Kivuuli, she's kept me company on my travels, she was born out here too." She smiles red eyes glancing back at the perched creature.
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Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:42 am
She couldn't help it, she had to laugh at the genet's exuberance. And at being a swamp spirit.
"It's a pleasure to meet you both. I'm afraid neither my mate nor I were born here. We arrived a moon or so before Nari became King here. As for my fur, well." Jua laughed again. "A great deal of grooming every day helps."
Almost the second she was done talking, she cursed herself for mentioning Nari becomeing King. If Lawanda had been away for as long as she'd said, such a disclosure might make her very unhappy. When are you gonna learn to think first, she admonished herself as they walked.
Dayo leapt to his feet when he saw Jua appear. Bounding happily over, he gently headbutted her before taking notice of the strange lioness and her stranger passenger.
"Jua, did you do what you needed to? Who is this, a new friend? It's an honor to meet you ladies, I'm Dayo!"
Grinning infectiously, he rumbled happily when Jua batted at him playfully.
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Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:53 am
Lawanda remained quiet for a few moments. It seemed the ruler had changed. She remembered the old queen, she had sent her upon her quest in that other life, or what seemed like another life. She had become Lawanda, a wanderer come home at last to roost. "I was sent upon my pilgrimage by the old queen, does she remain in the pride?" She asks, not offended by the lionesses words. It was good to know that a king now ruled the pride she remembered and loved.
Kivuuli blinked owlishly at the arrival of the big golden tinted male "Crikey theres a big fellah, 'avn't seen a big lion like that for a while." She chuckles and shuffles along the lionesses back and peers over her head. "Har, I'd not bother cleanin if I was white as you, It'd drive me scatty." She snuffles settling back down between the lions shoulder blades.
"A pleasure to meet you sir, my name is Lawanda, I have travelled far to return home." She smiles Tipping her head a little, as she watched the two love birds. Her gaze flickered across the white lioness and purred, she could spot the signs of pregnancy, she had bore two litters on her travels after all. "You should be a little careful wandering the swamps, there are dangerous places." She whispers "if you don't know the place very well."
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Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:05 am
Jua scuffed a paw in agitation. But she had to be honest. So, in a soft, gentle voice, she told Lawanda the truth.
"I'm so sorry, but she died shortly after we arrived."
Tail twitching in a sign of unhappiness and worry, Jua tried to think of something comforting to say and failed. She simply didn't know Lawanda or who her family was or anything that would give her some help.
And at the mention of being careful in the swamps, the best she could do was nod and look sheepish. She'd already had one encounter with a tiny sinkhole and she wasn't looking to go through that again.
Dayo grinned at the genet, simply accepting that a lioness had chosen to become friends with what would normally be a snack to him.
"Ha! I'm not as big as my brothers or dad, but thank you anyway, little one."
He frowned just slightly when the lioness asked about the old queen and winced. To have travelled so far and come home to find things so changed! Reaching out a paw in an attempt to comfort, he stayed silent, unsure of what to say.
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Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:13 am
The dark khaki lioness, turned her deep red eyes to the sky and gave a nod, it was not in her to truly mourn someone, after all they were lucky enough to go and join the spirits. "She was a good queen, I will miss her wisdom." She smiles lightly turning her gaze back on the two.
"I grew up in the swamps, though things have changed I am sure i can help you if you need it." She raises her brows to jua in a hinting manner, males were not allowed to help with birthing, but if this young female didn't have any other female companions perhaps she would appreciate a friend when the time came.
Kivuuli looked suspiciously at the large lion and gave a cheeky grunt "Aye well, guess that makes you the little one huh?" She grins a wide grin and flickers her tail "Ah'll have you know I'm probably older than you young man I don't 'preciate bein' called little. Names Kivuuli." She snorts playfully.
The lioness laughs quietly "never insult a genet, I learned that the hard way" she winks at the big yellow streaked male.
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Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:24 am
Relaxing slightly at Lawanda's acceptance of the Queen's death, Jua smiled slightly at the hnt and gave a faint nod. She wasn't sure if she'd need the help, but company might not be a bad thing when the time came. In the same soft voice, she praised Nari.
"Her son is a good King. He's the one who met us and welcomed us in when we first arrived here."
And then, she couldn't help it. She burst into laughter at the genet's words.
"Oh well said, Kivuuli!"
At that, she moved to lay down and rest. She was so very tired anymore.
Still grinning, Dayo made an elaborate bow to the genet before winking playfully.
"I beg your pardon, O Wisest of Genets. And you're quite right. It di make me the runt. But I got away with a lot more than my brothers or dad ever did!"
Still smiling cheerfully, he held out a paw to the genet.
"I didn't mean to offend you by calling you little one. It sounded politer than simply saying 'genet'. You two can stay with us tonight, if you like. We'll take you to see Nari tomorrow."
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Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:49 am
The older lioness smiles softly "The offer is very much appreciated" She whispers. "I need a place to rest for the night before I carry on, my bones arn't what they used to be and my leg does twinge more these days." She rolls her eyes "Listen t me sounding like some old biddy. I'm stil perfectly healthy I assure you." She nods at the pale lioness "Thank you for showing me the way in, it's been so long perhaps I wouldn't have found it as easily with out you."
The genet snikkers quietly "Sounds like a plan, the ol gal could do with a nap,s he's gettin' creaky!" She laughs and leaps from the lions back sitting directly next to Jua "Good nights sleep ud do us all a world o good I'd wager"
Kinamasi nods to the big lion and follows him in to the dens, she was glad to be home again even if things had changed so much.
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