|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 8:21 pm
He hadn't been too young when he was taken away from Oki, her anger and his old life. Bagrat had been a few months old and was already bigger than his foster mother's newborn cubs, though that was to be expected. Though the yellow juvenile was the newest addition of the pride, he was the elder sibling and cousin to these little ones, and took the role very seriously.
At first, he'd met with each cub individually to decide if he liked them or not. It was really more just Bagrat getting comfortable and figuring out who to trust, but it also served to keep the young lion's air of self-importance visible. No one needed to know what he was thinking, what he really liked and disliked - merely who had or didn't have his favor, which he seemed to consider so important. Truly, Bagrat knew he was the outsider, only raised in class by his adoptive mother's station. But that was no one else's business. The youth's insecurities were his own problem.
Stretching out, he watched as one of his younger male cousins ran by. Alfajiri'nafsi was already quite strange and a tad imaginative for a cub, but not purely unlikeable. Truth be told, Bagrat was sure there were much worse creatures to deal with in the world. Yet, he couldn't say he would prefer to talk to the other, rather than lounge about and watch the younger male attempting to make art with berries and sticks.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 8:51 pm
Kizuka was on her way back after some much needed one-on-one time with one of her sons, Tofauti. She had been taking the time lately to spend some quality time with each of her children, and this in Kizuka's mind included Bagrat. She had been busy lately with consulting the Council with her sister and their War General mate as to what should happen in regards to the approaching rainy season and with it, the floods.
As she entered the area in which Bagrat had been watching over the others, she promptly greeted each of them in the order in which the crowded around her like a mini-stampede. As each had been given their appropriate affections, Kizuka made her way to Bagrat and gave him a lick on his head and a nudge. She truly treated him no different than she did any of her children. She believed that with enough love and affection they all would turn out alright, even Bagrat, regardless of his parentage.
"Have you all been good?" She asked Bagrat, considering him the general ring leader of the litter, considering he was the eldest of them. Whatever example he set, she expected most would attempt to imitate, at least when they got older. For now they probably still ran around like the hyper little bundles of energy they were.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 8:55 pm
Bagrat nuzzled her a little bit as a response to her affection - she was his mom now after all. "They behaved well enough." he stated calmly, not really having gotten up to crowd the way the others did. He knew Kizuka was aware of his gratefulness and affection without tackling her every time she came in. And besides, with several babies all wanting to show her things or play, it was easy to get overwhelmed.
"Alfajiri seems to be caught up in his work." the yellow male commented, pointing to where the small white male had barely looked up from his art to notice his mother's presence. Working tirelessly on a piece that looked like absolutely nothing was strange to Bagrat, but then, he did admit to not being that sort of creative creature. "How're you?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:23 pm
Kizuka was glad to hear that everything had been well while she was away. She knew it would have been well regardless, as the other pride members were only a few panicked cub calls away to whisking themselves over and helping in any way they could. That was a perk of being in such a close-nit pride, regardless of whether or not you were the leader of the pride, members would come to any panicked calls they heard.
As Bagrat informed her that her son Alfajiri was far too preoccupied in his funny stick and berry work to come and greet her she gave a small frown, though it did not last long. She would have to talk to him later on; his concentration on his task would be useful in the future for whatever roll he was to choose for himself upon adulthood, but at the moment it was a tad unnerving to the grown lioness, she didn't even have that kind of concentration.
"Tired," Kizuka said with a small sigh. She would not tell her very young children of the things she did while she was away, but Bagrat was not a young child, and the boy was quite a bit more mature than his cousins, giving Kizuka a sense that he would understand the serious nature of the business she conducted during the day.
"Our Pride's Council is not pleased with Auntie Fasihi and I's proposal with what to do with the floods," She said, her maw shifting to an odd expression, "I only hope a compromise is reached before the rains come."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:29 pm
The yellow cub wasn't exactly worried about his cousin's concentration - some cubs just got so wrapped up in what they were doing that they lost track of time and space - as much as what he was concentrating on. But that was Kizuka's problem now, so long as Jiri stayed out of trouble on his watch.
"What was your position on the matter?" he asked quietly, curious as to the politics of the pride. It wasn't something he was much experienced with, but as his life or food might be affected by the matter, it was best to learn all that was going on in it. After all, his family was in a very important position politically and knowing what was going on was key, as he would probably have to one day teach his cousins.
"How do the rains normally affect this area?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 7:01 pm
"Hmmn? Our position?" Kizuka repeated, more for her own benefit than to acknowledge Bagrat's curiosity on the matter. Her maw shifted once more, showing an uncertainty she normally didn't show. She was still feeling the sting of rejection from the council on her, and it was apparent as her tail flicked back and forth.
She let out a small sigh and gathered her words, "I'm sure as you've noticed, our pride is divided by the river that flows through it. On one side is the male dens, closer to base of the pride so the warriors can easily rush to the front of the pride to defends us all. While on the other, is the female dens, where the children stay till adolescence, higher on the mountain so it isn't as easy to get to them."
"Auntie Fasihi and myself proposed that as soon as the rains began the males should move to the opposite side of the pride and take residence with the females and children where the ground is higher, but the Council doesn't want to break the traditions and feel that if everyone is at higher ground the lands will be left unprotected. Our lands are not our future, the children are. You, your cousin's and all the other little ones," Kizuka explained, attempting the best she could to explain her adoptive-child that this move had been used in the past, but because some of the Council members are not pleased with the fact that her and Fasihi were chosen as the new Kaibala'umbikezeli and are therefore making it hard for her to do her best for this pride.
"Politics are sticky business," She commented, "I'm hoping that if Fasihi and I's words were to come from Theluji, they will be more willing to listen."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 9:18 pm
Bagrat nodded some, taking in the information. "Why ARE our lands cut by the river? Why can't we just move higher into the mountains and the males live lower down in this area rather than on the other side of the river where they could all be drowned?" It seemed a little stupid to leave all the males over there just because it supposedly could defend, "Wouldn't the river already be a good first defense against enemies?"
Getting used to living in a pride was strange, where strategy and positioning could mean life or death. If the Council were full of morons who didn't listen, well then the Council needed to be changed. Not that he really had any control over that, or would voice it. He was just a youngin after all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 9:52 pm
"The Gods cut it this way," Kizuka said, obviously knowing no other explanation to give the young boy.
Kizuka was quiet for a few moments, figuring out a way to respond to him. He was a ball of smart, gifted fluff who would no doubt one day sit upon the very Council she was butting heads with at the moment. Whatever Kabaila'umbikezeli would have to deal with him without wanting to sputter at him would have to either be as smart as he is, or simple enough where they would not feel offended by his words.
"The river has never flooded enough to pose a threat to the male dens, which is why they have no desire to go along with Auntie Fasihi and I's plan. But it makes no sense for the men to be segregated off for several weeks from the women," Kizuka said, as she found her words to reply to Bagrat's comment about living higher up on the mountain.
"It's not as simple as that, dear. The higher on the mountain we move, the harder it becomes to hunt and breathe. The cubs would not survive so far up, and if the women lived below and the males above, intruders would reach the women and cubs before the males reached the intruders," She explained.
"The Council thinks that if any of our land is exposed that the whole pride will fall, which is not true. I may not be Theluji, but I do have common sense. If intruders were to take over the male dens and that side of the pride during the floods, we could easily take it back once the river lowered. No males would be threatened by the floods, and the children would be safest the way we proposed."
Kizuka sighed, hoping that if she could convince Theluji that their idea was for the better. If he decided to go against it, there wasn't much she could do to sway it as she was no the War Leader, she was not trained to spot flaws like he was. She was brought up to lead a simple life of luxury, baby producing and worshipping the Gods, which she was well prepared for. Being a leader was still more difficult than being a mom, and sometimes she wished she was simply just a mother. She could concentrate on Bagrat and the others without the looming responsibilities and the sense of guilt she felt having to drop them off daily at the parenting crush.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 10:01 pm
The yellow juvenile listened to her calmly, not bothering to pick out the odd points - like how the hell would attackers get up the mountains from the other side anyway? - deciding instead to snuggle closer to his mother. She looked in need of some moral support, after all of this.
"I'll miss you when I have to move over to the male dens. I like staying here better." he commented. Sure, it was a bit odd and crowded at times, as his cousins occasionally liked to flop on top of him, but it was really a lot more comforting and homey than being away from them. It'd be weird to not be near his new family, after gotten so used to their presence.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 12:13 pm
As Bagrat snuggled closer to Kizuka she drew him near and licked the growing mane on the top of his head. She may not have given birth to Bagrat, but she regarded him as her son in every sense of the word. He meant the world to her and could no longer see her life without him in it. She hoped that when he grew older than he would not run into Angra. She feared what would happen if that encounter occurred. Would Angra attack him? Would he kill him? Would Bagrat be able to hold his own? Would he leave her? She dismissed this quickly, not wanting to think of it anymore.
"Oh Bagrat," She said, feeling very sappy at Bagrat's words, "I'm going to miss you too. I'm going to miss all of you. You'll be bigger and starting your own families, or focusing on your roles in the pride. You won't have any time for me anymore..."
It was silly for Kizuka to feel that way, especially considering she had very little time for them at the moment. She had made a promise to herself, though, that as soon as the rainy season had passed, her every waking moment would be dedicated to them. The little ones would be bigger, and Bagrat would have also grown again, meaning she could take him with her on her daily duties, or Theluji could take him to see what he did. There would be many more opportunities to be together once everyone grew a notch.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 12:25 pm
Bagrat shook his head at that, "I don't know about starting families just yet. We'd have to find mates first, and I've barely met anyone who wasn't my relation." he joked, letting her groom his mane. She and Fasihi seemed to be under the impression that he had the messiest mane on the planet and any interaction with them would end in it getting groomed. Not that he really minded much - it was harmless and affectionate and really, his mane could be pretty wonky looking if not groomed right.
"Jiri's not allowed to have cubs till he stops accidentally dying his fur with berries though. We aren't letting him near any girls till then." the juvenile commented teasingly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 1:00 pm
Kizuka laughed heartily at Bagrat's comment and gave him a nuzzle when she finished grooming his growing mane. She couldn't help but agree to that sentiment to some degree. Jiri was so messy, no girl would want to come within ten feet of him when they were older, for fear of ending up as dirty as he was whenever Kizuka laid eyes on him. He was very special, though, and his artistic prowess, as it were, adorned the cave walls of their den now since she was insistent upon him drawing pictures for her there.
"Whoever you find as a mate, Bagrat, will be lucky to have you," Kizuka said with a smile.
She thought for a minute, back to how he seemed to interested in the affairs of the pride. Perhaps he would like to be taken with her to one of the council meetings that were going to happen tomorrow. Finding this a reasonable assumption, she looked down to him, "Bagrat. Would you like to come with me to one of the council meetings tomorrrow?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 1:26 pm
The male smiled a bit at that, snuggling up to his mother a bit, but not commenting. If he did find someone, he'd hope it could be someone who could handle his temper - Bagrat'd seen how much his real mother hated his father, and that was not something he wanted to do to any female he chose to be with.
He blinked some, thinking about it, before sadly shaking his head. "I can't. I really want to, but I promised I'd take Safura and Sabia for a walk and help them chase birds and swat at fish." The juve really REALLY would love to be at that meeting, get to see what was going on and maybe help if he could (he doubted it but still it'd be cool). However, his little sisters were counting on him and a promise to take them somewhere was a promise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 9:39 am
"I see," Kizuka replied, a tiny bit disappointed that he couldn't accompany her, but it was quickly drowned out with a smile and a great sense of pride at Bagrat wanting to keep his promises to his younger siblings. Kizuka didn't even regard the juvenile and cubs as 'cousins' anymore in her head. They were siblings. It didn't matter they had separate mothers and fathers, they were raised together and rely on each other. They were siblings.
"Well, why don't we make the most this time together, hmnn? Want to go grab some dinner? I'm starving," Kizuka smiled, giving Bagrat an affectionate nudge. She loved them all so much.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 12:23 pm
"Sure." Bagrat grinned, standing and nudging her back a bit. "Do you think I can help you catch something?" he asked brightly, looking almost childish for a moment. It was kind of sweet, really.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
