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Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 9:45 pm
Backlog Juvi stage
Namir wanted to spend the day with his Dad, just the two of them but that was harder then it seemed. First the den was full of bodies that got up around the same time his father did. Then there were his brothers who loved playing with their father, and his mother and aunts that sometimes wanted his time, not to mention his sisters, and that was just the family. After the family came the other pads of the pride and the cubs that their father runs into every so often. He really was in demand so Namir had to think of a way to get him alone after all it was no fun sharing his father with a hundred others.
He finally settled on a plan a few days later. He noticed that his father was nearly always the first out of the den so Namir figured if he could meet him outside alone he could convince his dad to spend the day with him learning to be a good pad. He woke up just a little before everyone else and slipped out to wait underneath one of the nearby trees. Namir laid down on the cool dirt and yawned. Guess mornings don’t really like me, he though as he closed his eyes for just a moment and slipped back into sleep with the moon and stars still shining above him.
Achal rose in the early morning hours before the sun had risen. He had the morning border patrol and he knew he had much ground to cover before he headed back to wake his harem. He padded out of the den, nearly stepping on one of his little ones in the process. It was never easy leaving the den, but he would not change it for the world. Stretching, he noticed a blue cub lying out where he should not be and quickly made his way over. He was frightened for a mooment, but relief was over him when he noticed it was Naim and all was well. "Naim," he called, standing above the cub.
Namir mumbled, “Cairo go ‘way” when someone tried to wake him. It took a moment for it to register in the young cubs sleepy mind that it wasn’t Cairo who was calling him. With a huge yawn Namir sleepily opened his eyes. At first he couldn’t figure out why he was seeing brown paws in front of his face then he looked up and saw his father standing over him. With another big yawn Namir sat up and rubbed his still sleepy eyes with his paw. Smiling sleepily he said, “Mornin’ Pappa.”
Achal frowned slight for a moment looking down at his son. "Naim'Namir, what is it that you are doing outside the den at this hour. You should be inside with the rest of the family." He sat before his son looking down and waiting for an answer. He really did not understand why Naim was outside the den and a bit disappointed that he had not realized it.
“Waitin’ for you.” Namir said honestly if a bit sheepishly. When his dad, mom or aunties used his full name it normally meant he was in trouble. “I wanted to catch you before you went off doin’ stuff. I was hoping I could tag along with you since I don’t normally get to do it.” Namir hoped that his father would say yes to him tagging along but was beginning to wonder if he would be told no, after all he did sneak out of the den before anyone was up.
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Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 9:46 pm
Achal shook his head slightly at his cubs thinking. "If you wanted to come all you had to do was ask me last night. I would have awoken you." Achal sighed and gave his cub a quick nuzzle. " You are more than welcome to join me, but you will take a nap this afternoon. You should not sneak out, you will worry us Naim." Achal stood and started off for the pride borders. It seemed today would be a very interesting day. He was feeling proud of Naim for wanting to join him on a patrol.
“Oh I didn’t think of that.” Namir looked away sheepishly. He really should have thought of asking Achal last night but he thought he was being so clever in thinking up a way of catching his father alone. He stifled a pleased shout and instead he said as adultly as he could, “Thank you Father.” A nap would be fine with him after all he got to with his father, even if it wasn’t all day. “I’m sorry Pappa. I won’t do it again.” Namir said before getting to his paws and catching up with Achal. It seemed like for every one step of Achal’s, Namir needed to take three steps but he didn’t mind since he got to spend time alone with his dad. “So, um, what are we doing?”
Achal smiled at his son and nodded approvingly. "I am glad to hear you will not do it again," he said watching Naim struggle to keep up. He did not slow however as he was behind. "We are headed for the prides borders. I have early morning patrol, just before the sun rises. Afterwards we will head back to the den to wake our family." Achal found the pair of them, while Naim was keeping up, were rather slow. He stopped and lowered himself to the ground. "You will ride on my back, it will be much faster. If there is danger you will jump down and run straight for the nearest den. Do you understand Naim?"
Namir smiled back at his father even if he didn’t quite understand why it would matter so much that he snuck out of the den. The danger of such a stunt never even crossed his mind. “Oh. So we are just going to walk the borders?” Namir was slightly disappointed, he didn’t fully realize that it was such an important job that they were about to do, he was hoping that they would get to do something exciting what exactly he didn’t know really. When Achal told the young cub that he would ride on his back he only paused for a moment before following his father’s instruction. He knew he was slowing them down but didn’t want to seem like he couldn’t keep up, this way he could still be with his father and not slow them down. Achal’s second part of the instruction made Namir think that maybe patrolling was more dangerous then he thought. “Yes Father. If there is danger I will run straight for the nearest den. And get help.” He added quietly because if there was something his father couldn’t take care of he would need help.
Achal smiled to himself as he felt the weight of his cub settle onto his back. He remember carrying or rather riding his sisters around this way. He wondered if his mom had felt the warmth he felt now with him when he was a cub. "Not a walk," he said pulling from his thoughts, "but a patrol. I have to make sure no outsiders get into the pride without notice. Sometimes outsiders can be a bad thing."
He listened to his son’s confirmation of his warning nodding slightly, ignoring the help part knowing if he needed it would come. "Do not worry the borders are usually safe, no one is ever there looking to harm us, but we patrol anyway. This will be your first trip to the borders and I really do not wish to frighten you. Just makes sure you understand that you should not come alone."
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Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2010 9:47 pm
Not a walk but a patrol. Namir fixed that in his mind after all one day he would need to patrol the borders too, although right then it seemed more of a walk but it might not be until they got to the border that it turned into a patrol. “Really? I guess I can understand making sure they don’t come in unnoticed but how can they be a bad thing? I always thought that as long as they understand the pride and accept us they are fine.” Namir thought of Nywele who he heard was a outsider until he joined the pride. He was nice.
He nodded even though his father couldn’t see him. Namir guessed he could understand what they were about to do, if anything those on patrol could always direct those who went out hunting to any prey they saw. “Ok Dad, I won’t come alone.”
Achal sighed lightly as they reached the borders. He stopped looking out over the land. "Not all who reach these borders seek to join up Naim. Some animals are devious in nature. Some think our ways wrong and seek to cause rebellion, other just cause trouble where ever they go, and then their is always the fear that cub snatchers may get in and make off with our young." Achal stood silent for a moment before heading off on his morning path, he would meet one of his brothers shortly to patrol with him. "These are things you do not have to worry about however, we have not had any trouble makers thus far. I fear this will likely be a very boring morning for you. Maybe you should sleep. I will take you to the lake later for a swim."
Namir didn’t know that those that patrolled the borders did something really important. “Oh. Well I guess it’s a good thing then that we are going patrolling then.” The young cub yawned widely as the morning sun slowly arrived. He didn’t want to miss a thing so when Achal suggested he nap Namir said, “I’ll stay up and help you then we can go to the lake.” He sat in silence on Achal’s back trying to keep a sharp eye out on the surroundings but soon sleep pulled at him again and he placed his head on his paws. I wont go to sleep he promised himself silently as he yawned again and drifted back into sleep.
Achal smiled happy to have taught his son an important lesson. He found himself laughing at his son's declaration and nodded. "Patrol, then the lake." He wondered if his son would make it. Achal could see his patrol partner in the distance and quicked his pace to meet him. When he did reached him, he bid him good morning and told Naim to do the same,'which recieved much laughter from his brother as Naim was asleeep. Achal chuckled, shaking his head before heading off once again on his patrol.
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