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 Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 8:43 pm
 (AIM log between Keantha and myself.)
Pushing the soppy water out from around her limber paws, the spotted lioness looked up to the sky for guidance and was disturbed when she could barely see it. This land...this pride, was so different from anything she had ever imagined when her companion had described it to her. Now that she was actually here, Eshe was more than a little peeved.
She was scared and nervous, which made her irritable. With her ears flipped back, she tromped through the swamp, growling at every fleck of mud that took a swan dive at her pristine coat. "Are we there yet or what? Is there something I should be looking for?"
Eshe practically yelled at him, though it was casual to her. Like most of the deaf, she assumed that because she could barely hear others that it was the same with them, so she talked extra loud.
Tana glanced at her with an amused smile on his muzzle, as he plowed through the thick, corse mud as if it didn't even exist. This was home, the sights and the smells brought him comfort on a level that he didn't even realize until he had been out there in that odd, cruel world. True the swamps were a harsh place to call home, but here things made sense.
"Not much further Essie. I told you my family lives deep in the swamp at the edge of the pride's lands." Kabu had always been a bit of a loner, but when the murders had happened she had been forced to move closer to the pride's central area for the cub's safety. When things had settled down, she and Ila had been the first to move their family back out into the swamp.
She curled her lip up at the nickname, purposely flipped up a spray of swamp water at his face. Just a little further, she kept telling herself. Then you can take a bath. Eshe looked down in his eyes, curiositiy getting the better of him, when she'd much rather concentrate on walking.
"Why so far out?" When it was just one on one, she could listen to a full conversation and she was glad she hadn't missed this. "Did something happen?"
He snorted but refrained from spraying her back as she had spazzed so badly theday he threw mud on her. "Mom has never had an easy life, but she is strong and stubborn. She doesn't like people pitying her for what has happened so she says she would rather face the dangers from the world out here with her mate and my little sibs, than see the pity in other's eyes."
Eshe's wide pastel eyes took in the trees around her as she passed. The smells were enough to send her over the edge. Everything looked old and ancient, but to her they were new and made her stick close to the male.
"I can't wait to meet her. Do you think she'll like me? No offense, but I'm going to need more friends than you." She grinned, nudging him a little playfully. Honestly, she wanted to know more, but she didn't want to pry, so she left it....for now.
He chuckled, "I am sure she will love you. She tends to adopt everyone that comes along into the family." He knew the first thing Kabu would do is fuss at him for letting Eshe be so skinny. It wasn't like he hadn't tired to feed the lioness everything she would hold, but no matter how many meals he caught her, she just never seemed to gain weight. It bothered him a little but surely his mother could set her right.
"It isn't much further. When I left home, she was talking about coming back to this den as soon as Wahadi and the others would move." He had talked to her often about his younger 'sibling', about his worries and fears for the small male going out into the world alone.
That eased some of her worries. Eshe wasn't from a big family, but they had been as thick as thieves her whole life. To be able to have that again would be the best feeling in the world.
She rubbed her shoulder against his at the mention of the younger male. Even though Wahadi was just an imaginary being in her mind, he meant something to the male, and she wanted to reassure him. "Well, what are we waiting for? You'll never see him again unless you run with those stumpy legs."
He mimed a lazy snap at her grumbling under his breath, just because he knew it annoyed her. His smile, however, grew brighter when he saw the familiar sight of the den. He had dreamed of this, coming home to the small, but cozy den, speaking long into the night with his mother and Ila of his travels.
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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 9:03 pm
"Mom! Strangers!" Kabu was on her feet in a second, her heavy body moving like a striking snake as she herded her cubs into the den. "Stay still and stay quiet. No matter what you hear. Do not come out till you hear me or your father call for you."
Stepping out, she sniffed the air warily. Gods help them if they thought they wold harm HER family ever again.
The tall, skinny lioness found a firm patch and pushed herself up out of the water. She flexed her paws on a stone, rolling her head up to the sky with a groan. Travel wasn't good on her legs at all! They ached from pad to hip, and there wasn't anything she could do about it until....whenever.
"Something smells....weird." Eshe flipped her ears back, slowly her casual long legged jog to a steady walk. It smelt like a large concentration of unknown lions, but she had no way of knowing if it was his family, so she looked to him for guidance.
Then as she got closer, she saw a figure. Are they all short?
"I am warning you stranger, you best turn back now." Kabu laid her ears back as she locked her legs. Living as far out as she did, Kabu served as a sort of border guard. Many of the tribe felt all outsiders should be killed for what had gone before, but Kabu, who had lost the most, refused to vote for such cruelty. It was not what Uko and Unus would have wanted.
"Shesh mom, trying to run me off already?" Tana quickly came to stand before Eshe partly to protect her and parently because he had to see her. Without waiting for an answer her broke into a run, slamming into the dark female, both his front paws wrapped around her as they both began to laugh and cry at the same time, the pure joy at their reunion would touch even the hardest of hearts.
Eshe moved into a defensive position, only to have Tana block her. She curled her nose and looked over his head. Then his actions and his words had her standing speechless, mouth slightly agape. "Thats your mom?!" Oh, wow. She felt moved and slightly out of place, bouncing back and forth on her paws.
It made her wonder what her mother was doing.
Eshe stepped forward hesitantly, not wanting to interrupt, but still a little fearful of being left out. "Urm, hey. I'm Eshe and I was....'invited'."
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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 9:34 pm
Kabu sobbed softly into her son's mane. She had feared, deep in her heart to never see her baby again and here he was alivea nd well and..She blinked violet eyes as she glanced up at the lioness before a tender smile came over her muzzle. "Forgive me child. I had thought my son was lost to me."
Her voice was very deep and husky for a lioness, but there as no mistaking the warm welcome and the love in her eyes as she gazed at first Tana then Eshe. "To see him alive and well has brought me such joy I thought I would never know..and to see now that he has found a mate." She choked on her sob again not wanting to seem as if she was weak.
His golden eyes had been glisteing with tear as he embraced his mother. Turning to smile at Eshe, he froze his eyes widening in shock when she spoke. Mate?!?! He knew Eshe wore the same stunned look, so he shot her a quick pleading glance before turning to his mother with a soft smile. "What can I say Mum, she stole my breath and hasn't given it back yet. Have you love?" He prayed that she would go along with it.
The moment was so touching that she felt her heart swell past the breaking point. "It's alright, I understand. I didn't know he was gone for so...so...long." Eshe's mental train derailed the moment that worked skittered into her selective hearing. She had to have misheard that, but one look at Tana told her it was true.
Mates?!
That dirty son of a b***h!
She dug her claws into the ground, wanting for all the world to scream at him, but the way he played along with it made her wonder if he really didn't have this planned. Eshe laughed tightly. "Who knows? You may never breathe again."
Kabu laughed softly as she nuzzled Tana before going to embrace Eshe, whispering in her ear so that Tana could hear. "I have prayed for so long for someone to watch over my boy." Stepping back she smiled up at her lovingly, "Welcome to our family Eshe. Anytime you need anything at all please do not hesitate to ask." Oh how she hoped for her children to find mates that would bring them the happiness and joy Ila brought to her.
Tana gulped when Kabu walked away, but smiled weakly at Eshe. He was a dead man walking and knew it but what could he do?? Taking a deep breath, and trying to smile he padded back to join the two females sitting close to Eshe but just out of swinging lenght. "How is dad?" True not all of his siblings had accept Ila so whole heartedly but he liked the big male.
Eshe awkwardly held the other lioness, all the while plastering on a fake smile and counting back from ten in her head. This couldn't be happening. She was going to wake up any minute and then someone was going to say this was a big joke.
Any minute now....
"Don't worry about that; I'm going to need alot of help." She'd expected a friend to help her with this, but a mother-in-law was fine....right? Oh, Tana was SO going to get it. Right now she was using her height advantage to avoid eye contact with the both of them.
Kabu smiled chuckling faintly, "I know, it is a lot to adjust to but you will be fine. There is a small den near here if you wish to get some rest. " A sad look passed over the lioness's face before she gave them a faint smile,"I am sorry I can't put you up with us, but the den is rather full again. Come on sweetling, lets get you settled in so you can rest. Tana be a dear and go meet you siblings." Without waiting to see if she was obey, Kabu began to pad off towards the woodline.
Tana ducked his head with a soft sigh. Thank god! Maybe if Eshe got a chance to calm down and get clean...he MIGHT survive long enough to talk to her. "Go rest Essie, I am sure you will feel better afterwards." Before she could reply he quickly scrambled into the den that had been his childhood home, one part to escape, one part overjoyed to meet his younger siblings.
She glared at Tana as he made his escape. Wasn't that just convient for him? If he thought she was going to go to sleep like a good girl, he was stupider than she gave him credit for. "Huh, what? Oh, wait up!" She trotted after Kabu, disappearing into the woodline.
(2,093 WC)
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