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 Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 1:49 pm
Upenzi wasn't blind. She knew that something had been going on with her sister. She had to, at least at some point, being the Hostess. But she was always so wrapped up in her duties, always taking life so seriously and never pausing that she hadn't taken the time to really think about what this meant.
About how she was working herself to the bone, and though this made her happy, it wasn't the end all. Oh well, Upenzi was a lost cause in some ways.
She was taking a breather, as she didn't think there was anything left for her to do today. At least, that she couldn't put off until tomorrow. She felt like she deserved this little break, and would enjoy it, watching the sun fade and the moon brighten.
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Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 2:17 pm
Badiri had been on his way to go on patrol, figuring the cubs were old enough now and Ukene could handle herself... when he realized he'd had a little stalker following after him. So, instead of getting out to the borders, he was headed back inward with his youngest son, aiming to take him back to his mother. He wasn't keen on the cubs being far from the safety of the pride ever, still trying to figure out how to handle the fact they were in the low class, but following him on patrol when they were this small was a definite no.
"Mazin, you can't just follow me everywhere," he said, sighing, "It's getting dark, your mother will be wondering where you went." Maybe, if she realized he wasn't there. They had did have quite a few. He looked up scolding Mazin and spotted Upenzi, for a second almost thinking it was Ukene.
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Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 3:05 pm
"What?" Upenzi blinked, looking down at the little cub that was rushing her way. She wondered, what was going on? Trying to take it in stride, she welcomed the little cub close by. Blinking a bit, she realized it was one of Ukene's cubs. And when she looked up...Ukene's mate.
She had no idea why she felt this sudden rush of embarassment. Was it because her sister had a mate, and kids, while Upenzi was still toddling around with her job? She had been nervous at first, but the Hostess and thrown herself into her job, probably a bit more than she herself thought. She had never thought about anything else, but...
"Hello there little one," she said brightly, even with a twinge of sadness creeping in. She didn't remember this one's name.
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Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 4:16 pm
"Mazin!" he called as the cub scrambled ahead, only to stop right in front of the aunt he hadn't seen nearly enough of yet. He shook his head and followed after Mazin, standing behind him and scowling down at him.
"Hello, Aunt Upenzi," he said, kicking at the cub as he prompted him- then looking up and smiling at her. She didn't look very busy, he only hoped it was so.
"I hope we're not bothering you."
Mazin stared up with wide yellow eyes and squeaked when he was nudged, leaning back to look up at his dad and then scrambled over and sat directly beside Upenzi. Almost directly on her paw, in fact. If he was sitting here, he wasn't in trouble anymore. Kind of.
"Hello, Aunt Upenzi," he mimicked, "What are you doing?" He looked up at her when he asked, then leaned out a bit to look up to the sky beyond her. But he looked back with a grin on his face.
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Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 4:26 pm
"Ahhh," she mumbled, a little surprised that Badiri had called her aunt. It made sense since the cub was here, but still...it felt a little weird. "Hi, Badiri," she said with a chuckle. She glanced down, seeing that the little cub was almost on top of her. Well, Mazin, since she certainly heard Badiri yelling for him. Naughty cub, she thought with a wry smile.
"I'm just taking a break from my duties," she said softly, looking down at him still. "What are you up to, hm? Not listening to your father?" she asked with another chuckle.
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Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 4:36 pm
"No! I'm listening," he argued, leaning back against Upenzi defensively and looking at his father, wondering if he would challenge what he said. He looked back up at Upenzi.
"I just wanted to go patrol with him," he explained, puffing up a little bit, "What do you do?" He didn't have a very good grasp on everything everybody did in the pride yet but he was learning! He knew all of his mother's family was important, though.
"He sneaked after me when I left," Badiri explained, glancing down to Mazin and shaking his head, "I'm not sure Ukene will have noticed yet but we're going back before she can worry." There were seven of them, Baddie could keep track of three, maybe four at a time.
"Nice night for a break, though," he commented.
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Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 6:03 pm
Upenzi smiled, and reached to ruffle the little bit of fluff that was growing in on the boy's head. Too cute. She felt a little mixture of emotions, but a lot of it was affection. And fluffiness over how adorable he was. She remembered that they were born into the low rank. She wondered how her sister and Badiri were taking it, but this wasn't the time to ask.
"I help out with things like welcoming people in, and even in your mother and father's wedding," she winked at him, looking up at Badiri with a smile. "And you father's job is to guard the lands. I think you're just a bit too small for that," she hinted, though she was sure that in a boyish stubbornness he'd deny it.
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Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 6:23 pm
Mazin ducked a bit as Upenzi ruffled at the fluff growing on his head but once her paw was back on the ground he flopped down and stretched out so he was on top of both of her paws, looking up at her. He wouldn't admit it but he was clearly getting tired.
"You helped with mom and dad's wedding?" he asked, his eyes wide. He twisted a little bit to look at his dad and then back to his aunt when she explained why he couldn't go with Badiri on patrol, "But--"
OK, he was laying on his aunt's paws and staring waaaay up at her, it was hard to deny he was small. But he didn't have to like it. So he didn't say it.
Badiri shook his head as he watched Mazin get comfy and Upenzi try to explain what she did and why he couldn't go guarding with him. She was very good, and apparently he wasn't going to argue with her. Cubs listened better to other people, interesting, very interesting. Maybe useful. A little irritating.
"When you're bigger, you might be able to come help then, Mazin," he added.
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Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 6:37 pm
"Yep! And I help with other weddings.." though there hadn't been any yet. She suspected that it wouldn't be too long, though. With so many single adults, something was surely to happen soon. She enjoyed getting ready for them, even if there was a lot of prep-work to make them special for each couple! Upenzi was a little too much into her work.
"Sleepy?" she asked with a wry smile, nudging him a little as he draped himself over her paws all dramatically. He was so light, and she could feel him breathing. Cubs were tough little creatures, but only like this did she realize that they were fragile too. It probably helped that he was falling asleep, and looked too cute while doing so.
"You'll be as big as your dad one day!" she chuckled, glancing up at her brother-in-law. "How's Ukene doing with all the little ones everywhere?"
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Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 6:53 pm
"Other weddings?" he repeated thoughtfully rolling over so his belly was towards his aunt's legs and his back was to his father, still twisting his neck so he could talk to Upenzi, "What happens if you need a wedding? Are you married?" He didn't know, if mom and dad could be married, aunt Upenzi surely could be. Hm. He made a face when asked if he was sleepy-- and then couldn't fight back a yawn, but he shook his head while he did it.
He curled himself up a bit, clinging to Upenzi's feet but turning his head to look back at his father as he considered the idea of being as big as his dad. Daddy was awfully big and he was awfully small, that was a lot of growing to have to do! Just thinking about it made him tired. Or maybe he was already tired, he wasn't sure.
Badiri grinned down at Mazin as he positioned himself in the oddest possible way and then stared at him thoughtfully, obviously trying to figure out something about his big he was after Upenzi said he would be this big. He shook his head and looked back up to Upenzi.
"She's doing very well," he said, "She's a great mother, she likes to keep busy so now there's plenty to keep busy with. You should drop by and visit, do you have time now? I'm sure she'd love to see you tonight."
Besides, everybody would falling asleep soon. Mazin certainly looked it.
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Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:03 pm
Upenzi laughed. Though, only young ones could be so bold to ask the questions no one else would. It made her wonder, what would she be like if she was married? The same? She wondered how well she could be a Host if she was, and even with kids. She could imagine she'd be very worn down. Upenzi knew she wasn't old, but...she might need an apprentice if something like that happened.
"Not yet, little Mazin. Maybe one day soon, and you'll be there to see it!" Whenever it was. If it was. She wasn't even courting anyone right now. Sigh.
She turned her attention back to Badiri, feeling a little bad that the little one was taking up so much of his attention. "I'm actually free tonight, kind of forcing myself a little mini-vacation with the night off," she replied. If the kids fell asleep, that meant a little more adult talk and less entertaining the little ones. She hadn't seen Ukene for a while.
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Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:32 pm
He thought about the answer Upenzi gave him, it wasn't entirely what he was wondering but it was exciting. He'd like to see a wedding, he wasn't even entirely sure what one was or what happened at one but it had to be exciting if that was aunt Upenzi's whole job. Or.. part of it. He didn't think about it for very long, though, for soon he had fallen asleep.
"I'm sure Ukene would love the company, why don't you come back with me and Mazin," he said, "I have to head back out once I get him back to his mother, though." Not that he imagined his mate's sister really worried about him being around while she chatted with her. Probably easier to talk about him if he wasn't around, too.
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Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 2:31 pm
Upenzi lowered her head, giving her little nephew a 'peck' on the top of his head. Moreso on his little fluff of fur that was growing in, but he was too adorable to resist.
"I'd love to," she said, "though I'm sure there won't be much talk on the way back." She was assuming that he'd carry his son back, since he might not make it all the way back on sleepy paws. "And it's fine if you need to go back out, we've all got jobs we need to do." She was one to understand, completely.
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Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 2:36 pm
Mazin shifted a little bit as he was pecked but otherwise seemed perfectly comfortable and happy to sleep. His little claws held on to his aunt's legs but they were far from sharp.
"Perfect," he said, then stepped closer as he realized how necessary it would be to carry the little one back home now, shaking his head, "Of course he falls asleep now." He leaned down and grabbed Mazin by the scruff of his neck with his teeth, pulling him off of Upenzi- with a slight struggle. And when she straightened back up, he smiled (awkwardly through Mazin) at Upenzi and started leading the way back to where Ukene was probably just figuring out that there was one cub missing.
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