Sikivu (and Fatiisha) played by xo -- k a i r i and Ethiopia played by wooga paes
Right. Sikivu was pretty sure everything that needed to be sorted, was now sorted. He'd managed to rest and regain his strength, ensure all of the younger lions who had been under his care were relaxing and settling in to their home well once again, and he'd talked to Ngao and offered his services, so now he'd returned to his previous position as a Guard once again.
So now, with any luck, it was time to relax, and catch up.
The pride had certainly grown since he'd left. The large lion no longer recognized every face, which was admittedly quite unsettling. However, he trusted that they wouldn't have been admitted to the pride unless they were vetted - presumably by Peke, in his new position. Sikivu remembered the young lad...well, he had been young. He was fully grown now, of course, but Sikivu remembered him being, quite literally, just a ball of fur. How times had changed.
With a sigh, he glanced skywards, where a familiar dark shape circled overhead. Fatiisha was certainly enjoying being back - for one, it meant she didn't have to scout for meals for a large group. Smiling slightly to himself, Sikivu headed towards the dens, wondering briefly if he'd run into anyone.
Ethi sighed, sprawled out across a rock and enjoying the shade of a tree. It was a rather uneventful day, and she would definitely enjoy something to do. She had been briefly considering visiting Mapa, as she hadn’t seen him in a few days, but decided against it. She and Tanz were finally old enough to not be in his mane anymore, so she didn’t want to bother him too much!
She couldn’t locate her brother, either, and Peke was out doing his job. So she was just lounging about, not doing much. On another day, she might muse about how much life had changed since her cubhood, being taken in by Mapatano, who seemed like the last lion who would do such a thing, and growing up.
But today, she was just happy to relax a bit and clear her mind.
Oh, what was that? Over there?
Sikivu frowned as he spotted a grey, fluffy shape sprawled out on nearby rock, pausing in his stride. It certainly didn't look like anything...well, anything other than a lion. Casting his mind back, he couldn't exactly recall any lion strikingly grey in colour - perhaps this was one of the new incomers? Figuring he may as well be polite and introduce himself, Sikivu made his way over, slowing as he got nearer - he didn't want to intrude if the lion was busy doing...something.
"Hello?" he called, finally stopping a comfortable distance away. He wasn't really...sure what else to say, now. He should have thought about this beforehand! "My name is Sikivu - I'm one of the recently returned members. I don't suppose I could trouble you for your name?"
At first, the hello sounded like a distant voice, as if it were someone talking to someone else. Still, Ethi opened an eyes and saw that there was a lion right in front of her. This didn’t actually make the lioness feel like there was any urgency, though. So she sighed, turning onto her back to stretch out, before rolling off the rock. “Hi, “ She said, voice still low and soft, followed by a curt yawn.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Ethiopia. “ She actually hadn’t heard his request, had simply gone through the normal motions of meeting someone. But she had caught on to the ‘recently returned member’ part. “When did you get back? “ She didn’t actually remember many arrivals, but she also wasn’t always in the middle of the action.
Ah, a lioness. Sikivu smiled politely as she turned her attention on him, setting his hind on the ground. "Ethiopia," he repeated, to ensure he'd heard it correctly, nodding as he took it in. His memory wasn't what it used to be, but he always tried to make sure he remembered names. It created much embarrassment, and possibly even offended someone, when you didn't remember their name. "Its a pleasure to meet you, Ethiopia."
When did he get back? Frowning thoughtfully for a moment as he cast his mind back, Sikivu was surprised with his answer. "Only three days ago, actually." It seemed far longer, but either way it was clear he was very glad to be home. "If you don't mind me asking, when did you arrive? There has been a large influx of new members in my absence, and I'm trying to...make sense of it all."
She nodded slightly, and sat down, looking up at him, and though not at her brightest smiling point (hey, she just woke up!) her face was at least soft and friendly. As usual! Ethi couldn’t be intimidating if she tried. So he’d only been back for three days? Ethi briefly wondered if he had been filled in on everything that went down after the earthquake, but decided it wasn’t her place to do it. She hadn’t really been involved.
“I arrived soon after the earthquake, one of the lions took me and my brother in. “ She probably wouldn’t forget the day she and Tanz arrived, hungry, orphaned and very, very frightened. Mapa had still remained scary for weeks! “Well, welcome back! “
She certainly had a pretty face...in a father/daughter manner over anything else. Sikivu was still reeling from the death of his beloved during the earthquake, and certainly wasn't the type to go around trying to woo other lioness' - certainly not younger ones! No, Sikivu needed time to overcome his loss. Right now, he wasn't sure he even wanted to love another...the pain of losing them was too much. Turning his thoughts to current events, Sikivu's smile returned.
"Which lion?" he questioned, unaware he might come across as nosy. His smile increased at her kind tone, though, the lion even allowing himself a chuckle, "Thank you. Its good to be back after such a long time - I've missed these lands."
Ethi hesitated a bit. If this lion knew Mapatano, he’d probably be surprised. “Umm, Mapatano. “ Though, at this, she briefly pondered whether she should let the word spread that Mapa was kind-of a nice guy. Sometimes. “You probably know him, “ From what she understood, Mapa was actually a little famous. Not that he seemed to enjoy the kind of fame.
It’d be so much better if he’d just let people be his friends!
Mapatano. ...Wait, what? Sikivu's surprised reaction was a little delayed, eyes widening and ears twitching a little before his forehead creased into a confused frown. "Mapatano?" he repeated, ensuring he'd heard the name correctly. The old king's son? Surely not - whilst Sikivu respected the lion, anyone who knew him would be quick to agree he wasn't the most friendly of lions, let alone caring for young children. Which was what he assumed Ethiopia had been, since she didn't look particular old, and Sikivu knew he'd been away a far while.
"Well, thats certainly...a surprise. How is he nowadays?"
“Yeah, “ She confirmed sheepishly. She might have gotten such a reaction before. “Well, I guess he kind of didn’t have much of a choice. “ There hadn’t been any nannies back at the time, and even Mapa wouldn’t just let two cubs starve! Though, Ethi did find Mapa to be a very nice lion. If he wanted to be.
“He’s fine. Getting over everything that happened, I guess! “ She might add ‘less prickly’, but she and Tanz might be isolated cases.
Didn't have much of a choice? Sikivu frowned again - he would have thought that was the lion given a choice between pulling his mane out and looking after children, he would have chosen to pull his mane out. But hey, you learnt something new everyday - and Sikivu was pleased, inwardly, that Mapa had taken the two cubs in. It was nice to know that under that fierce exterior there was a little kindness.
"That sounds fair enough - I'm glad you found someone as...sound a Mapatano." He wasn't sure he'd used the right word, but shrugged it off. "Two of you?" She had a sibling?" He nodded, a small smile creeping up his maw, "I think we're all a little shaken by recent events. Still, its best to look to the future."
“Me too! “ She grinned. Though Mapatano was a pretty gruff, grumpy lion, she was pretty fond of him. Then again, Ethi could learn to like just about anyone. Well, a lot of different kinds of people, anyways. Not that she’d ever like one of the infamous interlopers. “Yep, me and my brother, Tanzania. He’s blue. “ And he’s troubled. But, she figured that if this guy ever met her brother, he could decide for himself how troublesome he was.
Because Ethi really loved Tanz, and she wasn’t about to start badmouthing him. “Yeah, we all are. “ It’s what brought her here, though.
"Blue?" Sikivu frowned, trying to recll if he'd seen anyone with such a description. He knew a few blue lions, but none of them were called Tanzania. After a few moments he shook his head, resigning himself to the fact that he had yet to meet this pleasant lioness' brother. "If I see him, I'll be sure to say hi." He smiled, glancing skywards once more to check Fatiisha was still present.
Looking back to Ethiopia again, his warm, friendly smile returned, "Did you wander across the Aka'mleli by accident, or were you travelling here all along?"
Ethi’s ears folded back slightly at this, and she frowned. Maybe she should have told him the whole story. “My parents died in the earthquake. “ She flicked her tail, glancing at him reproachfully for a moment before shrugging and softening. Not his fault! And yes, she supposed if her parents –had- just lost her, it’d be really bad on their side.
“I’m sure it was, I’m sorry. Did you lose loved ones? “
...Her parents died? Sikivu's maw formed a small 'o' shape, and he stared blankly ahead for a few moments - as if he was staring at something over her shoulder instead of actually at the young lioness. Finally swallowing a lump he hadn't been aware of before, he inclined his head a little, glancing up at her with sad eyes, "I...I do apologise. It was careless of me to say such things - I'm truly sorry, Ethiopia. Such tragedy..,"
He paused as she asked a question - had he lost loved ones? The lion's expression became vacant once again, memories playing in his head like a film. After a few moments he shook his head, coughing lightly. "I...yes, I did," he spoke a little hoarsely, "My mate...she didn't make it."
“It’s okay, I didn’t tell you or anything. “ She said quickly, but really didn’t want to dwell on his mistake any longer. It was fine, really! Ethi got over things pretty fast. So in a way, she was happy he moved on from her, even though his story wasn’t that great either.
“I’m sorry. “ She dipped her head. After a few moments, though, she spoke up again, though not really that cheerfully. “Well, life goes on, I guess. “ She shrugged. It was easier for her, though. Because she barely even remembered her parents now, and she had spent most of her life without them. It would be a hundred times worse if something happened to Tanz, or Peke or Mapa at this point.
Life goes on. It seemed such a harsh thing to say, but Sikivu knew, now, that she knew the same pain he'd gone through. And she spoke truth - the future was what mattered now. He'd have his beloved in his memories forever more, and he was sure she wouldn't have wanted him to dwell on her death for so long. She'd want him to continue on without her.
"So, Ethiopia," he started, feeling a little awkward all of a sudden as the two of them mulled on what had just been said, "Which rank have you taken in the pride?"
She pondered a bit on this one, though she really shouldn’t have to. “I guess I’m a huntress, “ It seemed like a pretty default rank, she’d never been much besides a ‘member’ of the pride. Even though Ethi wasn’t the best huntress ever, if only for lack of much physical strength. She was fast, but had trouble when it came to actually taking down prey.
“How ‘bout you? “ Horrah for small talk.
Guessed she was a huntress? Sikivu chuckled - he understood where she was coming from. The Aka'mleli didn't have particularly strict boundaries between the different ranks. "I'm a Guard," he responded with a small smile. He had a feeling this conversation, and probably this meeting, was coming to an end. He still felt unbelievably embarrassed and guilt-ridden for speaking of her deceased parents in such a way - it had been so careless of him.
"Anyway...," he began, decided to end it for them. He didn't want her to feel awkward, or obliged to talk to an old lion like him. "I suppose I had better be going."
“Good to know we’re protected! “ She grinned cheerfully at that. This was another job she probably wouldn’t be great at, for the same reasons! Or well. Maybe she should just be a scout, that would work well. Not much to scout, but maybe it worked out for her better. And she could still hunt while she did that, anyways.
“Okay! “ She nodded, not surprised by his deciding to leave. “And I’ll… “ She paused, more talking to herself now. “Find something to do, I guess. “ Not really sleepy anymore. “It was nice meeting you, though! “
He chuckled at her statement - it was a little touching, to know that others recognised the importance of the Guard. Whilst he was still unsure about Ngao as the Captain - she was plenty qualified, yes, but with her disability, was she really the best the pride could offer? - the Guard didn't have time to rest. Especially not after recent events.
Inclining his head, Sikivu flashed his warmest smile yet, "It was a pleasure meeting you, Ethiopia. Tell Mapatano I said hello, when you see him?" WIth another nod of his head and a gruff wave, the large lion continued towards the dens, where he'd originally been heading. It was nice to know that there were pleasant lioness' such as Ethi repopulating the pride.
