Pakwa was still mildly concerned by some of the pride superstitions, maybe because he believed them so wholeheartedly. Still the swamps were perfect for he and Rani-rana, they were looking for the perfect den already. He was practicing how to hunt and getting rather good at it, he couldn't wait to impress Rani with his skills. He blinked and sniffed curiously before glancing back at Rani.
"I think we have some company cher, let's make nice yes?"
"Hmm? Oh alright Pakwa, but we need to find ourselves a den, it takes work to make a home, even in a pride as nice as this one...though..." She had been troubled by some rumors of problems in the pride, things that no one wanted to hear, things like murder. Still she wouldn't say anything, they had to at least try and settle down.
She was curious to meet this new stranger, she moved closer to Pakwa. "Hello?"
Kabu huffed faintly but the sound was filled with fondness as she padded along the trail. The dark blue lioness was rather short but she was build for strenght with wide shoulders and powerful legs...perfect for slugging throught the thick mud and muck. Her violet eyes were slightly unfocused as she nodded absently to the small tan and blue spotted male prancing beside her. The boy was young and looked tiny for his size, with none of the lioness's weight.
"Momma! Are you listening to me?" The boy demanded before skidding down a stop hearing the hello. He ducked back behind his mother with a wary look. Kabu lifted her head then, her body slightly tensing but she didn't seem aggressive just wary. "Hello strangers."
"Hello! I am Pakwa, and this is my mate Rani-rana, we are new to this lovely pride, Provisonaries you would call us?" He smiled and stepped aside not minding the mud. He and Rani blended into the greens and browns of the swampland rather well.
"Hello there, yes we're new but we hope to settle down and help out in any way we can." She moved up beside Pakwa as he stepped aside, after their travels together they had started to move rather in synch.
"It's nice to meet you both?"
Kabu's smile was a little strained as she nodded to them in welcome. It wasn't that she wasn't happy to see the pride flurishing but she had been through so much lately, it showed in ever line of her body. "Welcome Pakwa and to you Rani-rana. I am Kabusha and my son Tana." She nudged the young male out who peered up at the two lions curiously then with wide eyes, " You are from the outside?!"
Pakwa grinned at the young male "Indeed, we have travelled from far away to your lovely land. I was once a -ahem..." He trailed off as he felt Rani nudge him.
Rani-rana rolled her eyes and smiled, she had noticed Kabu's tension and didn't want Pakwa adding to it. This pride seemed to favor a long family history tied to the pride, and they were newcomers. Besides all that she and Pakwa had, had a hard journey and his one-time pride had befallen a rather poor fate. She didn't want them being targeted as unlucky or any such thing.
"It's nice to meet you Kabu, Tana, we're so glad to be here."
"I am afraid you have come at a hard time lady. There have been..." She glanced down at her son then back up at them, " well it is not an easy time." She didn't want to scare anyone but they seemed like good people and she would hate to see yet more innocent blood spilled.
Tana's gold eyes widened as he moved closed to Pakwa. "Really? Like where? I am to leave soon on my name quest but momma won't ever talk about life outside the pride." He shot his mother a faint disgusted look which she promptly ignored.
"Oh? We had heard...Well don't you worry Kabu we can take care of ourselves, by taking care of each other." Rani was quite confident, but mild concern had coursed it's way through her.
Pakwa chuckled at Tana "Oh really? You must be excited, there is so much in the world. So many things to learn about! You shall meet many beautiful f-" He coughed as Rani nudged him again.
"Well uh...there are many friendly rogues out there to meet."
"Yes but also many dangers you should be careful of Tana, I'm sure thats why your mother is worried for you." Rani-rana smiled softly after throwing Pakwa a small glare.
Kabu smiled gently as she watched the two strangers, well they definatly seem to be able to handle themselves..and each other. "I would be honored to show you around abit of you like Rani-rana while the boys talk." Her smiled as gentle as she glanced at her son. He was growing to be a fine man...but he had spent most of his life without any kind of male guiadence and she knew he needed to learn more from males.
"Well certainly, we were hoping to find a den to settle down proper." She moved closer to Kabu happy that the female seemed so welcoming. Even better she didn't seem to mind Pakwa's loose tongue. Kindness was one of those things that could make anyone feel at home.
Pakwa winked at the younger male as he noticed the two females about to leave them for a little quality time. He couldn't wait to show the boy a thing or two, tell him about the world. He could remember his own youth, not so far behind him, and still heartily enjoyed at times. Funny how he had fallen for Rani when they seemed so different, but it was her level headedness he loved, and she in turn seemed to appreciate his humor.
Kabu smiled with a soft chuckle, " There is nothing quiet like finding your own den and settling down for awhile. Of course it also means you are easy to find." She snorted faintly, " And make sure you choose a big one, nothing quiet like finding a den only to have the spirits make you move." She had loved her quiet den on the edge of the swamps...but when her own five cubs arrived, it was cramped. Then the 3 others and finally Ila and well..the den had to be given up to find a large place for the family to live.
Tana grinned wickedly when his mother began to lead the other female towards their old abanonded den. "If momma is taken her where I think she is, you will like it lots. It's right near all the best fishing spots and is nice and cool when it's hot."
"Of course, we need something comfortably sized, but we can make do with anything to start." She smiled at Kabu and followed her eagerly. "Have you been in the swamps long? It seems such a nice place."
Pakwa chuckled "You like to fish? I'm glad this place is so nice it makes Rani so happy. I like it too, it seems the perfect place to call home, as nice as things are out in the rogue lands."
She nodded, " For a little while now. It is a home like no other." Her life as a rouge had been one of heartache and danger but here she had found a home. She led the lioness a short distance away, still withing hearing distance. "This was my den before the children and Ila came into my life." It was a massive tree trunk, the roots had been washed smooth by the years and when the swamp had receded it had left a deep hallow nestled beneath the massive trunk the perfect dark little den.
Tana nodded eagerly, " I love to fish but I really wanna hear about the outside!"
"Ila?" She poked her head in and smiled looking back at Kabu. "This is lovely! I think it will be perfect for Pakwa and myself, thank you for showing it to me." She sat down despite how eager she was to show Pakwa the den and see what he thought, yet she had a feeling he would consider the cozy space perfect as well.
"Ah the outside is so vast! You can travel for days and days, weeks and weeks and still not see it all. There are other prides and many rogue lions and lionesses to meet." Pakwa grinned and leapt onto a log.
"You must hunt for yourself and learn your way around or you could easily become lost and away from a water source you could perish!"
Tana's eyes widened then narrowed as he thought. Most cubs would be caught up in the excitment but not him. "What way would you recommend traveling? I mean you and your lady have made it safely so you obviously know where the water holes are, where the food is." His little mind was already calculating possible travels.
Kabu smiled nodding her head, " It stays dry during the heaviest rains, cool in the heat. There is a fresh water source close and the fish are pleantiful. Though it is a little out of the way of the pride, but I thought like me, you might enjoy your privacy."
"Ah you should travel between pridelands, avoid any problems that come from territory disputes, and try to follow the rivers. It is better to let a meal get a bit away from you, then to loose a good source of water. It was easier with Rani, we worked better together, if you can find a partner...well theres no shame in having someone lend a paw now and then eh?" Pakwa sat down and smiled at the younger male, he certainly hoped the boy did well out in the world.
Rani nodded as Kabu explained a bit more about the terrain, fish sounded appealing. A dry, cool home close to fresh water and delicious fish sounded perfect! Even if it was a little ways from the pride, they wouldn't mind a little stroll now and then.
"I would like to wait for my little brother so that we could go together...but I do not know if it will be allowed." How such a young cub should have a little brother..well that was a puzzle for another day. Tana smiled up at him, " Will you tell me more? About the different prides? Are there any others like us out there?"
"We better head back before Pakwa talks your poor boys ears off, I think he's excited to have others to talk to again." She smiled softly thinking of her mate and this new home of theirs.
"Ah! Yes brothers on a journey, that would be fantastic! I hope it can be so!" Pakwa wasn't bothered by the mention of a younger sibling he was simply glad to have another to talk to. "There are many other, all kinds, some believe in the spirits and others do not, but Rani and I do and so this pride was the one for us. You'll learn more about each one as you come to them and meet others from them, I suppose the most important thing is never just believe someone's word, you should look and learn and listen and then form your own choices, your own opinions." His ear perked and he glanced up.
"I think your mama returns with mon ami."
Tana beamed as he raced to his mother's side, " Momma! Mister Pakwa is gonna teach me about the outside world!" Kabu arched a brow with a faint smile knowing the male had likely said no such thing, " Did he now?" Tana blinked then looked sheepish as he looked back at Pakwa " Will you Mister Pakwa? Can I come visit and you teach me about the world?"
"Pakwa did you tell Tana that?" Rani smiled wryly and shook her head with a smile at Kabu.
"Well I uh-of-of course! I should love to teach Tana about the many things he needs to know. He will leave us with knowledge and return a strong capable male with a pretty fe-" He chuckled and shrugged at Rani as he felt her nudge him again. "Ah well, I will teach him about things."
Rani-rana giggled and looked at Kabu. "If you don't mind that is?"
Pakwa nodded intently. "Of course if Kabu doesn't mind that is..."
Kabu laughed softly, her low husky voice rich as she smiled, " It seems that I was mistaken and Pakwa is indeed your teacher." The look of gratitude she gave the two lions was tinged with warmth and welcome. Her son liked Ila, but he needed to choose his own male role model and gods knew her brother wasn' there to show them how to be strong boys.
Tana squealed happily as he nuzzled his mother's legs in thanks before beaming at Pakwa "I can really come back anytime?!"
: "Of course!" Pakwa exclaimed happily.
"If your mother says it's alright, of course." Rani added with a smile.
Tana cheered again beaming up at his mother who just shook her head amused. "Thank you both."
"Thank you Kabu, and now Tana if you don't mind, I think I'll show Pakwa our new den." She grinned and leapt over the mud heading towards the spot.
Pakwa winked at Tana "We shall see more of each other later yes? Until then! Nice to meet you Kabu, you are a very lovely lady, thank you for your kindness!" He flicked his tail and jumped after Rani-rana.
Kabu chuckled softly as she smiled down at her now hyper son "Come on baby, time to get home to the others."
