Pwani trotted ahead of her brother, a bright grin on her face. "Nuit is the male I was telling you about last night, the one who shows such passion about what he believes in! He's the first outside our pride to show that, that I've met." She turned her attention from her brother to the surrounding area. "Nuit! I brought my brother!" It would be nice to have a definitely-safe place to sleep for the night.
Kali's ears lay back against red fur for a moment, and he huffed softly, not entirely convinced about this entire scenario. Mostly it just included extra people, and that, to Kali, was an instant precourser for annoying and unpleasant. He wasn't afraid of the familiar, or even the strange and relatively uninhabited...but he could never be sure when one of those people he met would prove to be someone he couldn't stand. His sister, being worlds friendlier, was not to be the measuring stick to ensure that he wouldn't want to bite the next fellow they bumped into. But he'd be...tolerable...polite...if only because Pwani was involved. "Well as long as you're vouching for him..." He mumbled, the very tip of his tail twitching back and forth to indicate his dubious thoughts.
Nuit looked up from his perch on a rock, and smiled. "Welcome back Pwani." He noticed there wasn't much similarity between Pwani and her brother...he was a vibrant red and deep black to Pwani's bright white and rich brown. But from what he could see...their eyes were the same. He moved off the rock and bowed his head to the lion. "Good evening. My name is Nuit le'Croix." He also noticed the two siblings' attitudes were vastly different. While Pwani was energetic and outgoing, her brother seemed more...well, a bit annoyed.
Pwani bumped her brother's shoulder with her own. "Don't worry...he and his bunch are pacifists. He's not gonna try anything." She smiled at Nuit. "Nuit, this is my brother Mzimu'motokali." She chuckled. "We don't look much alike, do we?" Ekun was very much her mother's daughter. But Kali...Pwani'd heard her mother say once that he took after their ancestors in coloring.
"Pacifists..." Right. Well that didn't really mean anything to him. He wasn't worried about the other 'trying' anything. After all, Kali himself was strongly built, the blood of generations combining in a most imposing fashion...most people didn't 'try anything' where he was concerned. Then again, he'd really never met someone he could truly call an enemy. "It is good to meet you, Nuit..." He replied politely, for now at least. He could hardly say it was a pleasure to have encountered this fellow...yet. It was better to wait on outcomes. "I've heard you've extended an offer for Pwani and I to stay the night." It would, he had to admit, be pleasant not to have to consider placing watches all the midnight hours.
"Good to meet you as well, Mzimu'motokali." He...wasn't sure he could shorten the other's name. He knew there were those who took GREAT offense to having their name shortened by those they considered strangers. "I did extend an offer. From the stories I've been told of the world outside, and my talks with Pwani, I thought you might like a safe place to stay the night." It was only right, after all. And he rather liked Pwani, now that he'd managed to not get into an argument with her. Her brother seemed nice enough as well, though a bit guarded. Not that Nuit blamed him for it.
Pwani let the two boys talk a bit, while she watched. So far, they seemed to be getting along well enough. Her brother was really being nothing more than polite, of course, but she didn't expect any more than that out of him. She'd always been more outgoing with strangers. FAR more outgoing. And so far, Nuit seemed to take no offense to that. Good~ Wouldn't do for her brother and their host for the night to have major issues with each other.
"I must admit that...it would be rather a pleasant experience to get a full night of sleep. There, sadly, aren't many places in the world these days where I feel comfortable doing so." By himself, perhaps, but not with Pwani at his side. Yes, he might have been a bit overprotective, but that was his job and duty as a brother, right? Well, she hadn't bitten him for it yet. "What sort of place is it that you call home? Pwani did not elaborate, simply lauded." A very faint smile touched Kali's maw at that...yes, he was fond of his sister, and indeed all his family...one of the very few things he really cared about.
Nuit nodded, chuckling. "The pride itself is called the Ardhi'Mrvingo'Patano. But the part I live in is called the Sanc. We're a peaceful sort. And it's a beautiful territory. My den is one of those near the lake-shore, so it's cooler during the middle of the day. Pwani said your pride is beside the sea, so perhaps it might be nice to see a large body of water again?" It was nice that Kali seemed to care about his sister as much as she seemed to care for him.
Pwani looked a bit embarrassed. She did have a tendancy to ramble at times. But she meant well! "And from what Nuit tells me, the rest of the people in the Sanc are very nice! A little like back home, except not everyone is a scholar like we are."
His ears perked at the mention of water, something that he had never fully said goodbye to. He'd loved the sea, and he let a rather wistful sigh escape him. "I would indeed enjoy the nearness to the lake..." Already Nuit was putting him in a better mood, perhaps he might like this fellow after all, despite his natural caution where such things were concerned. "So I must thank you again for your invitation." It really was good fortune, he was forced to admit, that Pwani had met Nuit.
Nuit nodded and turned. "Than follow me." It was good that the other male seemed to be relaxing. "You might even be able to catch a glimpse of the colony-islands if the evening mist has subsided from the lake. And there's plenty of fish in the lake if you get hungry. Or I can show you one of the good hunting areas." It was actually rather nice, having new faces to talk to.
Pwani blinked. Colony islands...oh! She was certain Nuit had mentioned something about colonies earlier! She followed the dark lion, curiosity sparked again. "Colony-islands? Do creatures live on them? If so, what sort of creatures? And are they stuck there?" She would ask about food later. Right now...she wanted to KNOW!
Making his way along behind Nuit now, he simply listened, lapsing back into silence. He was already planning on taking a visit to the lake this evening...mmm...already he could imagine the water lapping at his toes. There were simple pleasures that he always enjoyed...and he fully intended on taking advantage to the near-proximity. Ears fully perked, he listened to the conversation, not willing to intrude on Pwani when she was gathering information....quite inquisitive, his sister.
Nuit nodded. "The colonies are well-inhabited. All sorts of creatures live there. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, a few canines and hyenas, and there's hybrids of the felines too." He chuckled. "Most of the colony-dwellers have a little bit of blood different from their visible heritage because of it. And they're not stuck there. There's pride members who steer ferries back and forth between the colonies and the mainland." He sighed. "Braver souls than I. I'll admit I can't go very far into the water before turning back."
Pwani nodded. "That's...pretty nifty!" She chuckled. "Me and Kali are completely lion~" She blinked. "At least...I think we are." She'd need to ask her mother when they returned to the pride. Ekundayo knew so much...Pwani was certain her mother would know about their bloodline. "You should learn to swim further out. It's lots of fun! And a lot of the REALLY tasty fish aren't in the shallows. At least, that's how it is back home."
"We are." Kali confirmed, he, after all, had made many inquiries of his parents concerning their ancestry, that being one of the few things that truly interested him. Ah, swimming, they'd once again touched on the water subject. With a soft sound, he actually laughed softly, "Yes. Swimming is quite relaxing and enjoyable, once one is accustomed to it."
He laughed a bit. "You certainly look completely lion." He looked a bit embarrassed. "I do like swimming. But I have a bit of an issue once I get deep enough that I can't see the bottom. An old fear. I got pushed into a deep patch once, before I learned how to swim. Father had to come save me." He perked up once they reached his den. "Here we are! It's nice and spacious inside, so there'll be no problem with crowding."
Pwani frowned. "That's horrible." She snorted. "I woulda kicked the butt of whoever did that to me." Mind...in the Simbafutaji, you learned how to swim early on in life. "You shouldn't be so worried nowadays. You know how to swim. And you're big enough that you shouldn't have anyone trying to push you into the deep end!"
Kali nodded his agreement, "In fact, you might enjoy it..." It shouldn't be a problem for an adult male to overcome a fear like that, surely. Though, Kali couldn't really imagine any one thing (especially water) keeping him from doing something he truly wanted to do. Eyeing Nuit's den, Kali sniffed delicately, "Mmm...it is a very nice place that you have here..." And that he would share it with those not family, it spoke of generosity...and one could only hope discernment went alongside that.
Nuit nodded. "It's certainly something I've been thinking of trying to overcome. Especially since I'd like to visit the colonies." He smiled. "I've just been distracted by other things." Perhaps meeting these two from the sea was a good push and reminder to get over his fear. "Thank you. I'm a healer, so I try to make sure things are clean and in order."
Pwani giggled, bumping Nuit lightly. "Well, good thing you came across me and met us, huh?" A healer? Well, that definitely explained some things Nuit had told her about himself! And it was a sensible thing for someone who didn't like fighting to be. "Well...we've got a bit before it gets too dark, so why don't we go fishing?"
It made sense now, to know that Nuit was a healer. Kali had respect for them, for even though they did not fight, without their aid, many a brave hunter and warrior would never have survived. His smile but widened when fishing was brought up. "It involves water. I'm in." Kali replied, shaking his mane for a moment. It would also give him a better chance to get to know this new 'friend' of theirs.
Nuit nodded. "Fishing sounds like a good idea indeed." He was fond of the taste of fish. "And I know a good spot for fishing! My friend Saburo and I found it a few months back, and we like going to it every few days." He smiled and started towards it, glad the two seemed at least mostly comfortable in his presence. He didn't like when others were uncomfortable around him. And...well, they may have been fighters of sorts, but they were good creatures. He certainly wouldn't mind if they visited again in the future.
