Her mother had died not too long before she reached that age where she would have to explore the world. Face the facts of it, and find her true name. It hadn't been a sudden thing, as Salma had always known that her mother was old; the fact that she was an only child in the 'litter' would have proof enough. Her mother wasn't young enough to have that problem. She had probably been too old to really properly bear Salma; the old lioness just counted her luck that the cub grew up strong and healthy.
Salma always knew that her mother was different; and not in a good way. Though the lioness had flourished better under the care of the Jini-msemi, there was the fact that when Asali died, Aushi had reverted. Not totally, or she would have run away from the swamps, but enough that Salma didn't really know anyone else in the pride. Not very well. Names were easy, but knowing them in a true-friend-sense didn't exist.
When her mother died, Salma was alone. She was still fed, and slept where her mother had, but her loneliness never faded.
Then the time came where she was to be sent away. She knew it was something that every adolescent went through, but there was still the fact that she felt like she was being rejected. She had a half-sister and half-brother, but she didn't know them that well. Salma had heard that there were more, but they had never returned from their naming journey. Did they die? Or did they just not want to return?
Salma had nothing to return to.
As she stepped out of the damp earth towards the dry savanna, she glanced back. There was nothing to return to. Would she want to go back to the place where her mother had died? What would she find when she started to explore this world that she knew nothing about?
As she closed her eyes and turned around, she ran into something. Soft, warm, but not soft enough to keep her from being knocked on her feet. She blinked, looking upwards at the thing that was casting a shadow on her.
She blinked again, not certain if she was really looking at what she thought she was.
Mana, the wind goddess, had been waiting for her. She didn't think that she would really be able to keep her promise, since why would a goddess follow one little youngling around? Aushi never mentioned how Salma was the spitting image of her. It made Mana balk for a moment, thinking that perhaps she had somehow slipped into the past. Only, once she looked closer, there was a certain air around Salma. There was no paranoia, no worry that the world would eat her in one gulp. There was a scared, lonely youngling, but one that had a sense of self. Confidence, even with what she had gone through only a week or so ago.
"Hello, Salma," Mana said softly. "I'm here to help you, as your mother wished."
The young girls' ears perked up. "My mother? Are you her?" She reached with a paw, touching the nearly-destroyed feather that lingered around her neck. "The one that she has spoken about since I was born. Mana, the goddess of the wind." Mana only nodded in confirmation of the young one's suspicions. "My mother...you know of her death?"
"Yes, she wished it for me to guide you when on your pilgrimage, to give you a reason to kep going. She knew she was just short of death's grasp, and it was her last request to me." Mana fell silent, and the girl did as well.
"So...but I'm supposed to do this on my own, aren't I?" Mana only grinned. "Well, that's within the rules of the Jini-msemi. I am not apart of them or their teachings, though I used to be an aunt to the old swamp goddess. Regardless, I am not here to hold your paw in every aspect of your journey. I am here to lift you up when you're down, to make sure that you do not give up."
Salma sulked a little, if only because she felt her mother's grasp beyond the grave. Not in a bad sense, but in the fact that her mother still seemed to want to keep her on her own. She shook her head gently, trying to banish those thoughts. This wasn't what that was about, no matter what the dark parts of her heart claimed. It was supposed to be a bright time.
Mana noticed the look, and commented on it. "Do not think that I am here to guide you back to the Jini-msemi exclusively. I am going to let you make those decisions. Aushi only wanted you to be happy. Do not think that the past she chose is the one that you should follow yourself. You need to make your own path, and only you can really decide on that fact."
Salma thought upon those words, weight specific ones more heavily than others. "Alright," she replied quietly. "I only hope I have as much faith in myself as you do it me."
Mana's eyes shined for a moment before she laughed. "Dear, it's not me that has the faith in you. it's your mother, Aushi, that is the guiding light behind these words. I know that she only wants you to be happy. She will watch over you, as the spirits do, anywhere you choose to be. Because she will always be in your heart." Mana reached out and gently poked the chest of Salma, the adult fluff slowly starting to grow in.
Salma smiled, the first time in a long time. Mana noticed how pretty it was, and hoped that nothing too dangerous would happen to the girl. The last thing she needed was to smile that smile at the wrong party, and have a male to ruin her life. Salma needed to figure out her direction in life before throwing anything else into the mix.
"So, where would you like to walk first?" Mana smiled softly, a very motherly smile. Salma was still nervous being in such close proximity to a goddess, but what was she to do? She chose her direction, and the two walked together, side by side.
