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 Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 8:24 pm
In her gravid state Indu felt like she was waddling oddly. The midday sun beat down upon her and she wanted nothing more than to sit down beneath a tree and wallow in her own self pity. It had taken her a few days to gather enough courage to come home and face her mother.
She'd been so rude and mean, she knew that now..but now things were different again, like the moon her mood had shifted its phase. She wasn't feeling as selfish as normal, she had life in her womb that needed a pride to belong to. This was the only home that she knew, and her only family was here.
Her children would grow up in a place of tradition like she had; even if the rules sometimes angered her. Mwezi'Johari is what she knew. The pale yellow and blue lioness continued walking, if she stopped she knew she'd never be able to face her mother, and ask for the forgiveness she wanted.
Indu expected to come home to the way things were. Her mother's sadness, her mother a slave, and her mother's one true love as King. Boy was this ex-brat in for a surprise.
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Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 9:25 pm
Unyezi was a very busy lion lately but now that Ivie'lingwa's cubs were growing, it was less important for him to be a major presence in their day-to-day lives. He had more time for himself and for his own family. While Ulivuma often tagged along with him, he was happy to be out for a walk with the little lion. He had always enjoyed his trips with Ally, whether or not she still looked fondly back on them, and was happy to share similar experiences with the rest of his family. He had plenty of knowledge to share with them, soon they would be part of the high class and living on their own, expected to understand their pride and fend for themselves.
"So, do you remember the way back from here?" Unyezi asked his son, having led him a fair distance from the central lands now, helping him to learn the geography of the world around them. It was all fairly flat except for the mountains but there were still unexpected obstacles any hunter or guard might want to remember.
"Uhhhhh," he stammered, looking around them when questioned by his father. He didn't have an answer for him but he was surprised when he spotted someone else walking nearby. He wasn't sure how far out their were or if it was someone to be worried about but- it was a distraction from his ignorance.
"Who's that?" he asked, staring at Indu.
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 9:11 pm
Indu was thinking that everything was exactly as she remembered it; that stump there, that was one she passed on her way out, and that bush there, she had found an ants nest under it before. Looking off into the distance she wondered about Nerit; would she be exactly how Indu remembered?
"Of course she will," Indu answered herself aloud, "Mom's never changed in all my life."
Her stroll down memory lane ended quickly when she saw two forms coming toward her, one was a white and familiar brown mane and the other smaller and dark furred. She wasn't scared, this was her home..but the colors made her curious, it seemed she was coming across The King.
The pale lioness did stop, but her waddling pace slowed considerably.
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 9:25 pm
"Uli, don't try to change the subject," he scolded, though he didn't stop smiling- until he realized Uli appeared to actually be looking at something. Then he looked- and he was stunned by what he saw. It was impossible not to recognize Indu, he was the former king but Indu's existence had always given him mixed feelings. He hadn't been with Nerit and he had his own cubs but that didn't mean he hadn't been jealous or upset. Even when he hid it well. Add that she was now family and how Nerit had been when she left.. there was no mistaking Indu.
"Uh," he stammered, not sure what to say to Uli immediately-- and then realizing something else. Indu had a belly and was waddling.
"Dad?" Uli looked from Indu over to Unyezi, tilting his head and raising a brow at the response he got. It was obviously someone his dad knew or he wouldn't have just stared like that. He made a face, trying to guess who it might be, looking back to Indu.
If his dad wasn't going to say anything and she was going to pretty much walk past them, Uli realized he would have to go do something himself. He didn't wait for his dad to say anything and ran out to approach Indu.
"Hey!"
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 9:35 pm
Indu wasn't sure what exactly to do, without a doubt the adult was the ruler of her homelands and this caused mix feelings to well up, probably a lot of what Unyezi felt. Indu had been jealous of the way her mother spoke of the male, jealous that her father wasn't spoken of in the same light-- if at all, and the fact that Nerit had loved someone besides her with such a passion. She was stumbling for what to do.
I should bow..bow..wait..I.. the lioness' thoughts were disrupted by the young male's exclamation.
"H-hey yourself," she replied a bit stunned at being greeted in such a way. Who was the boy? He looked familiar...well a little more than familiar..he had some similarities with the only family Indu knew, Nerit.
"Y-your Highness," Indu bowed awkwardly and couldn't take her eyes away from the pair, she looked between them. "It has been a while.."
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 9:44 pm
Unyezi followed after Ulivuma, now forced to make an approach to the pregnant step-daughter who had no idea of the situation she was returning to. He held his breath absentmindedly- until it came time to respond and he had to sigh.
"There's no need to bow to me, miss," he said carefully, politely but clearly. He was practiced at appropriate behavior, it had been useful in adjusting to life as a slave now. It would just seem unusual for one who still thought him in the high class.
"Things have changed since you left, Indu," he added.
Uli wriggled silently when she addressed him and then turned to bow to his father. He just about started laughing at the gesture. He knew what it was about, Nerit and Unyezi didn't bother hiding anything from the cubs because they would have found out some other way if they didn't know from them. He sniffed, trying to think of something to say-- until he heard his dad call her Indu. Then his eyes went to the yellow lioness, widening in surprise.
"Indu!" he cried, realizing who they were talking to, "You're Indu! I'm Ulivuma!" He puffed up importantly, not hesitating to step between the other two lions. He was in the high class, he got away with a little more rudeness because of it.
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 9:54 pm
Straightening out a frown spread across her face turning her eyes downward in a mix of confusion and concern. "Changed?" Mom's silly dreams of the king actually leaving his position for her had happened.
"You're..no longer The King are you?" Indu's red eyes shifted to the young male, Ulivuma. "And...Ulivuma is..is Nerit's son?" Her body decided this would be a very good time to take a seat.
"I am Indu," she repeated to Uli dumbly, "Ulivuma."
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 10:13 pm
Unyezi watched as Uli tried to dominate the conversation, but it wasn't hard to see over him- in fact, he wasn't in the way at all. He took a seat, shaking his head to confirm he was no longer king and almost nodding to confirm Ulivuma's mother but deciding it would be more respectful to speak. And.. there was some explanation necessary.
"No, I'm no longer king," he said, verbally repeating his confirmation, "Shortly after you left, I stepped down from the throne and Alcmene took over. Then Nerit and I married."
It was already obvious when Indu figured out that Uli was her brother, but he was trying to put it all into words, make sure nothing was unclear. He hoped hearing it would help her accept it, he wasn't sure what to expect when he knew some of the circumstances under which she had left.
"I became a slave," he added a pointless detail, offering a small smile, "So, there is no need to bow to me."
Uli was very evidently disappointed with Indu's reaction to his introduction, she only seemed worried about mama- which he understood, he would miss her too if he was gone away for a long time but.. he was Ulivuma. They were meeting for the first time, she should have been excited. He was excited. His brothers and sisters would be excited, too!
"And then they had ussss," he added to the story, still trying to be acknowledged, "Me and Nyota and Aoede and Tshokolete!" He nodded matter-of-factly, not realizing he was jumping a bit ahead in the timeline and that it might be insensitive to finish blurting out the whole story. He was hoping she would be friendly, happy- at least more so than Alcmene, she didn't really acknowledge them unless she had to.. and she really never had to.
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 10:41 pm
He was her step-father, the last conversation Nerit and Indu had had was that this day would come, and Indu was unable to believe it or even imagine the thought. Nerit's love for Unyezi..their love for one another had been so strong that he was willing to step down from his position and love her and only her. Indu felt a lump forming in her throat, she wanted that kind of love, that kind of passion.
"Unyezi...I..I will always want to bow to you," She said in a very adult line of thought, perhaps the ex-brat was growing, "You bow to those you respect. I respect you..and your new position within the pride. " Slaves were a necessary part o her homeland and her religion, another thing she'd come to accept.
"Nyota, Aoede, Tshokolete," Indu spoke their names like a foreigner learning some of the native vocabulary, "and you, Ulivuma." She flashed Uli a small smile. There was so much to take in, she had siblings! She wasn't an only child anymore. For a moment she thought for sure there would be a flair of jealousy, but she only felt dazed and intrigued.
"I didn't think anything...could change," she confessed, "I was so sure things would be exactly the same...besides well.." she raised a paw motioning to her stomach.
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Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 1:50 pm
Despite the pain and worry Indu had caused for Nerit when she left, Unyezi had always felt his own worry about being accepted by her. His own family hadn't handled the change very well but they were dealing with a different situation and with another parent who was physically present. And Alcmene had been rushed into her position, her distress and resentment about that certainly had some influence over what she and her siblings thought.
"Thank you," he said appreciatively, and let her speak to Uli again before she drew some attention to her middle. He hesitated slightly but smiled at her. He would not assume the worst, she had been gone for some time and while she was pregnant, she looked healthy and happy otherwise.
"I think we should go find your mother," he said, then looked to Uli, "What do you think?"
Uli looked back and forth between Unyezi and Indu until Indu addressed him again, repeating all of their names. He nodded along with each name, nodding enthusiastically when she got to his name. He paused when Indu indicated her pregnancy, cluing in rather quickly for someone his age and looking over at Unyezi when he suggested going to see Nerit. He didn't even think about how their trip out here was cut short, he was excited to see Indu and excited to see mommy excited about Indu and her babies.
"I think yes," he said, nodding.
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Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 6:24 pm
Indu felt grateful that there weren't any questions about the pregnancy... at least not yet, and probably because of Ulivuma's presence. Nothing terrible had happened, in her loneliness of missing Hewa and Lala she'd found someone to keep her company, that was all. She just didn't want to explain that she'd fallen for a male the same way her mother had.
"After the two of you," she beamed, it was going to be hard to see Nerit again, she fully expected and anticipated Nerit's scolding for being gone so long. She was an adult now..and well she was carrying at least one grandcub, perhaps the scolding wouldn't be too bad. "I am so happy to be home..I hope she's happy."
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Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 6:33 pm
"Alright, Uli, lead the way," Unyezi said, turning to Ulivuma when Indu agreed to go on home and letting him get them started on their way back in to see Nerit. He smiled at Indu reassuringly, feeling better that she seemed genuinely accepting of the changes that had happened.
"She will be," he said, "Even if it doesn't seem like it at first." He too was expecting there might be some scolding. He'd be angry if he wasn't so happy to be accepted and to see her safely returned-- and if she weren't pregnant. She was right to think it had some sway in her reception.
"OK!" Uli said brightly, scrambling around in a circle before bounding off towards home again. He was excited to be allowed to lead the way but he was also excited to surprise mama and the others. Everybody just had to be happy to see Indu, he was, so why wouldn't they be?
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Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 6:45 pm
Indu followed Ulivuma happily enough, she thought the kid had spunk and liked that, she was content to know that at least two of her family,Unyezi was her family as well...she'd gained more than just siblings in the deal, seemed happy to see her home.
She walked conscious of her waddle and hoped it didn't show too much, she also hoped she wouldn't run into anyone else until they saw Nerit, she was nervous enough to see her mother without adding anyone else into the mix.
End.
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