Mashaka rose early though he didn't move, he didn't want to disturb the lioness that was close to him. He couldn't tell if she was still asleep but he wasn't about to move around and wake her if she was. It had only been a little while since Mashaka had come to live in the female area of his new pride.
Mashaka was slowly understanding more and more about the pride he had just joined. He understood now that Kissy had brought him to this area of the pride so that she ahd claim to him. From his understanding he may be considered as a good male for his pelt, and Kissy didn't want another female to be able to have him sire cubs for her before she had the chance to deside if that was what she wanted.
Mashaka shifted his wait lightly and immediatly turned to look at the dark lioness hoping that he hadn't woken her.
When Mashaka turned to look at her he was greeted with one half-open green eye. Fortunately, Kissy did not scold him. She seemed to have woken up all on her own. Without getting up, Kissy stretched out her limbs, black claws catching dim flecks of light, and let out a loud yawn. She sat up a little bit and looked at Mashaka, a faint smile coming to her face. “Good morning, Mashaka.”
It felt good to wake up next to a bright parastar. Mashaka was brighter than her mostly white father, even though he also had some neutral coloring. Maybe the gods had sent him to deliver her ghasts as a reward for her honor. Still, she wanted to spend a little more time with him before she made a decision.
She walked to the opening of the den and shook herself, trying to get some feeling back into her legs. “Mmm, I’m feeling thirsty. Let’s go to the watering hole.”
Mashaka let a small smile move across his lips, it made him happy to not get scolded right away by Kissy, he was doing his best to not get himself in to much trouble, he knew all eyes would be watching him here in this part of the pride, and that if he messed up that Kissy would send him back imediatly if not worse things such as kill him.
With out saying anything Mashaka rose to his feet to follow behind Kissy down towards the watering whole. He kept silent most of the way too afraid to really say anything that might get him introuble. He had been shocked by the good morning Kissy had greeted him with, it was more pleasent then he had expect he wondered if perhaps he was doing well here and making a good impression on Kissy.
"Its a nice day" he finally said in a low whisper of a voice looking up to the sky. She was learning quite quickly how to change his voice, on the outside Mashaka had been a loud bustling lion, but here he had learned how to speek in only a dull whisper, a skill he would be sure to teach any sons he sired.
Kissy felt much better today. She usually woke up in a better mood than when she went to sleep. All the colors of the jungle seemed brighter in the morning and her mind buzzed with the possibilities of a brand new day. For the moment all the gloomy thoughts of yesterday were small shadows in the back of her mind, obscured by the bright green leaves and the smell of morning dew. She breathed deeply and sighed in agreement.
Once she quenched her thirst, she promptly found a sunny spot to lie and sun herself beside the shallow pool. This morning they were the first lions on the scene. Kissy rolled onto her back and put her paws in the air, turning them and giggling softly, simply out of feeling good. “I used to play here all the time as a cub.” Her voice was tinged with faint sadness.
She rolled over and padded a spot beside her. “Sit. I want to talk to you.”
Mashaka quenched his thirst quickly after Kissy had had her fill. He then came and sat silently next to her, smiling happily as he saw Kissy roll over on her back and she seemed to be very playful, it was very becoming he thought. He even let out a small Chuckle.
When Kissy rolled and padded the ground beside Mashaka was quick to his feet and trotted happily towards her. He settled quickly beside her anxious to hear what she might have to say, she was in such a good mood it seemed and it was exciting to have the chance to see her like this.
He settled down next to her and looked down a hopefully look in his eyes, he almost appeared to be hopeful and cub like.
The look on Mashaka’s face reminded her of her older brother Kupa, a memory which brought a frown to her face. She had not seen Mashaka in months. Even though he was a male and therefore inferior, she worried that he too had fled the pride and dishonored himself, and possibly their family. Although she had not heard anything herself, she often worried that the other lionesses were talking about Mawu behind her back. Kissy was the darkest of Mawu’s daughters. She was also one of the few remaining. Perhaps some of them suspected she would be the next deserter.
They were wrong.
Kissy looked away and banished the memory. “How do you feel about cubs, Mashaka? Be honest, do you think you could be a father? You will have to spend a lot of time around the den playing with them, keeping them safe and cleaning up after them while I hunt. Most importantly you will have to teach them who they are. They should be happy with who they are, as I am.”
She was speaking of her rank. Kissy believed that her rank was as much a part of her as the color of her pelt. Although she was only a shikar-i, she knew that through hard work she would be born into a better rank in the next life and because she believed that she had done well in this life, she felt no shame.
Mashaka thought he saw soemthing move across Kissy's face but before he could really decide what the emotion was it was gone from her face. Mashaka wondered what Kissy could hvae in store from now. He was now rapidly learning that Kissy was full of surprises, he was never really sure what the darkly colored lioness might have for him next.
When she mentioned cubs Mashaka felt his face shift he loved the idea of cubs, and the smile on his face showed that. "I love cubs, just before I left my mother she had a litter of cubs, it only made it harder for me to leave, I wish that I was able to stay to help her raise them, but only one of the cubs came to live with her. She is a strong lioness she will be fine." he said his voice drifting, he knew that this may not have been what Kissy had wanted to hear.
"I of course would love to play with our cubs, and teach them all I could. I could not imagine our cubs being unhappy, not with you as there mother, you are clearly proud they should all be lucky and born with that same sense." he said
Kissy doubted his sincerity almost immediately. Lately Kissy had learned that the world was not the happy place it seemed to be when she was younger. Perhaps she should have learned that lesson after her father left, leaving her mother in tears, but she was too stubborn to accept the truth at that age. Yes, she was optimistic, but she cautioned herself. Mashaka’s blind joy at the prospect of childrearing made her wary. “I wish that, too. But Kunanda is a harsh pride. We have strict rules, maybe too strict for some. That’s why I want my cubs to grow up knowing that they have a place and a purpose here, no matter their rank.”
She looked away again, studying the grass between her paws. “My cousin left because of the way we segregate males and females. Many others in my family have left for similar reasons. I love this pride and I want my children to love it too.” She shook her head. “You seem like a fine parastar, Mashaka… but I don’t know if a rogue can ever teach my cubs to love Kunanda the way I do.”
Mashaka fround he was unhappy about the way Kissy clearly doubted him. He really wanted cubs, he thought he could teach them all that they would need to know, perhaps more so his sons then daughters as he didn't fully know the females role here in the pride, but he would find out to make sure they understood all they could and feel pride.
Mashaka knew that as a male in the pride that he was of a lower rank then any female, but he was still valuable in a way. With out males such of himself the females would not be able to have cubs, cubs were the future of the pride, and he helped provide that... that was his role and his purpose.
Not wanting to contradict Kissy Mashaka stired uneasily. "I think of it differently." he said uneasily, the large lion had become jittery. "I joined this pride and left my family because of I felt it was the way I meant to be, because it is a place I love." He looked down at Kissy hoping he hadn't just got himself in trouble.
At first Kissy felt annoyed that Mashaka tried to talk back to her. Her tail slapped the ground. But by the time he was done she understood what he was trying to say. In fact, though she hesitated to admit it, he made a valid point. She snorted and sat up straight, making herself taller than him. Her tone was firm but gentle. “If you feel the need to make a point, you should say ‘excuse me’ first. What you said was very rude.” She sighed heavily. “I should have known I’d have to train you. It’s not your fault they don’t teach manners in the rogue lands. With a little work you might not be half-bad. You know, you should talk to my grandfather, Liza. My grandmother has had two litters with him. He knows his place and he’s very sweet.”
Mashaka bowed down to Kissy, ashamed of what he had done. "I beg your forgiveness miss." he said with a slow voice. He couldn't belive that he had stepped out of line that. "I will be sure to take your advice and seek out Liza, I am sure that I could always stand to learn more about the pride as to not shame myself or you again."
He chanced a glance up towards Kissy. He hoped that she would forgive him, he did after all really want to have cubs with her, even if it meant something different to her then it did to him.
Kissy smirked and lay down beside Mashaka again. Despite herself she was getting to like this purple male. He made mistakes now and then, but she saw no reason to doubt his humility. Maybe he would make a good father after all.
“My advice is to just relax and remember who is in charge. If you treat your mistress with the respect she deserves your toh will grow. You honor your mistress and yourself through your loyalty and obedience to her; that’s what it means to be parastar. The gods are just and will redeem you for your honor in the next life. That’s my favorite thing about Kunanda. No matter what position you’re in now, if you work hard you’ll be happier in your next life.”
Mashaka lay comfortably next to Kissy a little uneasily. He had no doubt in his mind that he could get use to being around Kissy. It was exciting to be laying here with her. "I will be sure to take your advice my mistress." he smiled lightly he liked calling Kissy his mistress, and he hopped dearly that she didn't mind either. The large purple lion swished his tail lightly and allowed to fall slightly on top of Kissy's. It felt good to touch her even if it was just a breif touch. He hoped that one day it would be something more, Mashaka turely had fallen for his new mistress and was very happy in his new home.
