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 Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 11:02 pm
Safura = Gray
Tofauti = Purple
Spenta = #00bbff
Safura'nafsi had decided that today was adventure day, but was reluctant to go by herself. With her four other siblings being heavily engrossed in their own games with Alaia and the other female's children, she went looking for the only other sibling she had who she knew wouldn't be doing much at the moment, Tofauti. She knew more than likely, that Tofauti would be off by himself someplace awaiting their mother to return from her daily duties, which she didn't mind all that much. After all, it was Tofauti's decision to want to interact with others, but she figured he was probably a bit bored.
Seeking Tofauti out, Safura trotted away from her siblings and sitters, a nice big smile on her face as she called out her brother's name, "Tofauti! Tofauti'nafsi! Where are you?"
Safura scrambled around looking in the different clearings and the bushes for where her brother could possible be. If they had been playing tag he'd definitely be winning at this point, while Safura would have grown frsutrated at her inability to locate him and would start crying. Thankfully they weren't playing, yet, and so she was much more patient with her search for him. After some time she decided to test the air to try and located him, wondering where he was.
"Tofauti?"
Tofauti'nafsi had discovered a new favorite place to find solitude; while it wasn't the den, it was a special place to himself and his Mother. When his mother was off taking care of pridal duties, he would oftentimes come to the place where they'd found that sacred blossom. He knew it was silly to feel close to his mother while in the little field, but it did.
Hearing his name being called a distance off, he recognized the voice as that of his sister, Safura. She was his favorite sister, but she was far more outgoing than he was and so instead of playing protector to her like any good brother would, the roles would likely be reversed in this situation. He felt a closeness with Safura that he couldn't explain except that she was different, like he was. Her fur was different; no colors tainted her pretty white pelt. And.. she was different, too. She'd brought Grandpa to the pride, almost as if she knew he'd be right where he was at that exact moment in time.
"Here, Safura," he called out to her, rising to his feet in order to meet her partway. "I'm here!"
"There you are!" Safura beamed, trotting up to her brother in a leisurely manner before nudging and rubbing against him in greeting with all the love she could possibly muster. All her siblings were important to her and she loved them all very much, making sure to show it to them on a daily basis. It was definitely something she took after her mother on, making sure to show the people she loved how much she loved them daily.
"Do you want to go on an adventure with me, Tofauti?" Safura asked, a little hop and pep in her step as she posed her question to her brother. She figured he might be apprehensive at first so she gave him the biggest smile she could muster in attempts to warm him up to the idea of going along with her. After all, she didn't plan on going too far away, just far enough where it would be considered new.
"We can try to look for new places!"
Tofauti nipped at her ear playfully with his lips, purring at his sisters show of affection. He wasn't sure what she wanted to do, but they'd never done anything together that Tofauti had considered to be unpleasant. Despite that, he wasn't sure he wanted to wander far from the dens. He knew that mama would be back soon; the sun was on the tail-end of its travel across the sky. After hemming and hawing a few moments punctuated by the shifting of his weight from foot to foot, Tofauti sent a worried glance towards the field behind him before turning to his sister.
She really, really wanted to go on an adventure.
"I.. I guess we can, Safura." He tried to be excited, he really did, but straying too far from the dens or the field he'd shared with his mother, well.. it didn't sit well with Tofauti very well. "Will we be home before mama gets there?" His voice was tense with worry. He loved greeting his mama each day when she arrived back at home; it was very, very important to him.
Safura could sense Tofauti's reservation as soon as he asked whether or not they would be home in time for them to greet their mother. She nodded her head sternly several times before reinforcing her answer with her words, "Of course we will. Mommy would be very sad if we weren't home when she was home. Also everyone else might eat all the food if we aren't back on time."
She hoped that her explanation was enough to ease her brother's mind as it was a very good explanation. She knows she wouldn't want to miss greeting their mother or being able to eat either, even if her emphasis was a little more on the eating than to saying hello to their mom. She was there every evening to give kisses and cuddles, as well as each morning, she wouldn't mind if Safura wasn't there every once and awhile. At least Safura didn't think she would.
"Which way should we go first, Tofauti?" Safura asked, looking from side to side. On one side was the woods, on the other a trail leading down towards the river. Safura wasn't sure which way she wanted to go, so she figured she'd ask Tofauti and he could pick a way.
Tofauti felt comfortable enough to go on an adventure with his sister after her convincing words. He knew she was being truthful with him, and that made him feel better. "Okay, Safura. Let's go.." he paused, glancing around before deciding on a direction. "..this way."
'This way' was a way he'd never been before, and he wasn't sure if Safura had or not. The altitude was higher and Tofauti wasn't completely certain where they would end up. With his uncertain nature, he wouldn't let them stray far. Tofauti worried far too much about missing time with his mother to allow himself and his sister to wander too incredibly far.
"Have you ever been this way?" They were a nervously far distance away from the dens, and despite his worry Tofauti felt a surge of excitement, just a small one.
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 11:15 am
Safura quickly followed after her brother in the direction he indicated. It was nice to be on an adventure with her brother instead of being on one alone. She generally had her adventures alone, not that she minded it all that much; she still had fun so there was no harm, no foul in it all.
Safura peaked around at the surroundings as Tofauti asked her if she had ever been this way before. Truth be told, she had not gone up this far from the valley floor. She had always found the thought of the high altitudes scarier than possibly being swept away by the currents of the rivers at times. She remembered having a dream one night where she was traveling along the side of the mountain and found her feet no longer touching ground, her body floating into the air. She had been jerked awake as soon as this happened in her dream, so she didn't see much else, but it still scarred her.
"I've never been this way before," She said, seeing a couple birds and running up past her brother a little, following them, "Look! They got blue tails."
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 11:23 am
Tofauti looked towards the birds that his sister indicated, a little smile on his lips. "I like blue," he commented, admiring the iridescent way the sun glinted off the tails of the birds. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad at all, he thought to himself. His sister Safura was easily the sibling he felt most comfortable around, although Jiri played a close second. She didn't berate him for being a total and complete momma's boy and for that he was thankful. He got enough of that from his grandpa Joto.
"I never been this way before either," he continued, a nervous tinge to his voice. "Do you think it's safe?"
Spenta knew it was past time for him to revisit Kizuka's pride lands. His heart ached every time he thought about it, but he'd finally made the decision to just.. go. He couldn't fight the need to meet his cubs, and he couldn't fight the urge to see his love once more, despite the fact that they wouldn't be able to nurture their relationship because of her duties to her pride. Perhaps in time, but for now it could not be.
Spen snuck across the pridal territories, surprised at the lack of guards. In previous visits there had usually been guards actively patrolling. He didn't really know if it was a good thing or a bad thing, but he shrugged it off and continued further along.
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 11:43 am
"Blue is pretty," Safura agreed, dropping behind a little so she could walk next to her brother as they investigate their new path in the pride. She was praised greatly for her lack of color in the pride, and from her mother's teachings to them, knew why, but at the same time it felt strange. All the most wonderful things in the world to her came with colors, some more vibrant than others. She wanted to let her brother, Jiri, paint her sometimes, but she knew her mom would be sad if she did, so she never asked.
"I don't see why it wouldn't be safe," Safura mused, offering her brother a smile, "It's our pride! We should feel safe wherever we walk, right?"
Safura noticed a few flowers off the path that Tofauti and her were taking and started to drift into that direction. Many were wild flowers that grew on the side of the mountain valley and were particularly fragrant, and there was one or two of the flowers in which Kizuka had told Tofauti previously, were sacred to the pride.
"Lookit, Brother! Flowers," Safura smiled, pawing at them gently, "Let's make crowns!"
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 11:52 am
Tofauti nodded at the sensible words his sister spoke. Yes, it was their pride and they should feel safe, she was right. He watched her drift towards the wildflowers that grew in abundance and he remembered the little meadow he'd taken his mother to, the one where she'd pointed out the pretty purple flowers, the sacred ones.
His eyes brightened when he saw those flowers that meant so much to their pride, and he gestured at them. "Safura, see these purple ones? These are sacred to the pride. That's what mommy said." As he had before, Tofauti lifted a paw to gently brush against the velvety blossoms, reverent in his actions. "We can make crowns, but we mustn't harm these."
Spen had been walking for quite some time. The lands were beautiful and relaxing, and he felt no strong urge to hurry. That was partially due to the impending meeting with his family, and partially due to the pure beauty that the lands offered.
In the distance he heard soft talking. Quirking an ear in the direction, he quietly and carefully made his way to where the voices came from. They sounded young and he didn't want to frighten them, so he kept low. Crouched under a bush, his red eyes swept over the area until he spotted two small cubs, one white, one with diluted purple and yellow.. so familiar. The little girl had the same swirls that he himself did, and the boy had a familiar wing, one that graced his brother's back.
Spenta knew these were his children. His heart lodged in his throat, and he fought tears while he watched the small boy gently brush the sacred purple flower before talking to his sister. He waited with bated breath, daring not to breathe lest they disappear like a tormented vision. He just... needed to watch them. Spenta didn't want this moment to end. He'd waited too long.
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 1:52 pm
Safura listened intently as Tofauti explained to her that the purple flowers among the wild ones were the sacred flowers of the pride. She had seen them many times before when they were taken to the pride's shrine, but when you only see them in passing you never get the opportunity to really study their details. She inspected the flower carefully and took a sniff from it with a smile. It was nice to see her brother so knowledgeable and sure of himself like he was when he was telling her about the flower.
"Maybe," She began, not sure of the words that she spoke, "Maybe if...if Daddy ever comes to visit us...we can show him the flowers."
Safura knew of her father. Kizuka made certain that there was no mistake with who was known as 'Daddy'. Even though Theluji was the one around them constantly, and helped her mother and Fasihi raise them, she was told to never address him as 'Daddy', because that wasn't who he was. He was Uncle Theluji, and should remain so.
Safura was hopeful for the day that she got to meet her father. She dreamed about him many times, in many different ways. There was a description of him in her mind, given to her by her mother, but without ever really having seen him all the dreams she had were her mind's attempt at guessing. Sometimes it made her sad.
"Do you ever wonder where Daddy is, Tofauti? I do. Somtimes," She murmured, plucking a wild flower from the ground and beginning to make a flower crown for her brother.
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 2:10 pm
Tofauti kept quiet for a long time. A thoughtful expression marred his features, causing a little furrow between his eyes and a frown to ever-so-slightly crease the corners of his mouth. He idly brushed his paw against a little yellow flower that tickled at his tail, mulling over his words carefully before deciding to speak.
"It makes mama sad," he said, his voice rough. "She misses him bad, and she wants us to see him... but he never comes." The little cub sighed, lifting his gaze towards his sister. "It makes me angry that he never comes. It makes me angry that he makes mama sad." He fell silent for a few moments, that same thoughtful expression flitting across his face.
"I do wonder where papa is," Tofauti continued. "I hope he comes every day so that mama smiles more often." That being said, the cub fell silent once more, busying himself with providing Safura more flowers for the crown.
Spenta choked on the emotion that clogged his throat, a pain so blindingly pure seizing his heart. Kizuka had told his cubs about him? And they called him Daddy? Kizuka was his heart, his very soul... and he loved her, forever. That she had honored him by making sure that his cubs knew who he was.. it was astounding. He loved her, even more so now, having stolen a glimpse of two of his babies. They were beautiful, plain and simple, and he wasn't sure that he could leave his family after seeing them.
But he would have to.
He wanted to hear what his little girl had to say before making his presence known. It was important to him. He could never excuse his absence, only hope that his babies understood why he'd had to leave, and why he would have to leave again.
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 2:31 pm
"He'll come see us one day," Safura said assuredly to her brother, finishing one of the flower crowns and placing it on his head with a smile. She believed with all her heart that their father would come see them one day. The Bad Man couldn't keep him away from them forever, and when he did, Mommy would be happy and Grandpa would be happy and than he'd beat up mean Grandpa Joto for being so mean. Yeah, that sounded nice to her.
"And when he does I'll get to give him big, big hugs! And than you get to give him hugs and Jiri will give him hugs and Sinin will give him hugs, and Sabia will also give hugs and so will Iolana! Hug pile!" She shrieked happily, grabbing her brother for a hug. She wanted one now, after having mentioned it over and over again.
"And we'll all be a happy family. Just like in my dreams," She said, nodding her head as she spoke.
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 2:39 pm
Tofauti laughed. He couldn't help himself. Safura brought that out in him. She was always just so happy and sure of herself. Tofauti admired that in her. After their hug, he smiled, "I can't wait to see mama happy. Really happy." She was happy to her children, but some nights when Tofauti was supposed to be sleeping, he saw his mama. He saw how sad she was, and it made Tofauti sad, too. "She has the prettiest smile." A loyal son, Tofauti. No female could live up to his mother.
"Lets bring this crown to mama," he said abruptly, suddenly eager to see his mama once again. Diligently he sat down and with an expression of pure concentration he haphazardly tried to help his sister construct part of the flower crown.
Six. He had six cubs. It was heartwrenching. He couldn't wait any longer.
He broke through the underbrush. Fighting the urge to run towards them, he merely walked. It was hard, so hard, not to run to them and tumble them into the beautiful flowers that blanketed the meadow. Spen wanted to bury his face in their necks and breathe in their baby-scent. He wanted to know everything about them. He wanted to feed them, to learn their little quirks and oddities. He wanted them to know that their papa was real and that he loved them, and that every day he was away from them a small piece of him died deep down inside.
He approached, knowing his daughter could see him but his son couldn't. He was at a loss, but he knew patience would be key.
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 3:12 pm
When Spenta emerged from the brush, it caught Safura off-guard and she let loose a little cubby squeak and fell backwards, startled by her father's sudden appearance. Granted she didn't know at the time it was her father, but once she managed to compose herself and roll back onto her feet she took her place in front of her brother and starred down the male before them.
"Who're you?!" Safura asked, her hair slightly hackled defensively. She knew that her brother could take care of himself, but she felt she should protect him anyway, since she loved him so.
Safura didn't realize how silly her questions had been until she got a good look at the large male before her. He had markings of blue and yellow and bright red eyes. She quirked her head as she noticed his wing marking and the little crowned heart on his butt. Eyes widening with sudden realization, Safura looked towards her butt and did a quick turn as she tried to get a good look at it.
He had the same markings that she did! He also had the same markings that Grandpa had, too! Wait, did that mean-
"DDDDDAAAAADDDDDDDDDDYYYYYYYYYYY!" Safura screeched, with really loud happy squeals that probably caused poor Tofauti's ear drums to pop. She took off towards him, her little cubby legs going full speed.
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 3:22 pm
Tofauti winced when his sister shrieked loud enough to raise the dead. Once he realized what she'd actually said, he turned to get his first look at his father.
Spenta ran to meet his daughter, grasping her tightly to his chest. He buried his face in her neck, just like he'd fought the urge to do just moments ago. This was real, this was his daughter, Kizuka's daughter. She was perfect, every inch of her. "My daughter," he whispered to nobody in particular, letting the awesome fact seep into his bones.
Tofauti watched the interaction between father and daughter, approaching at a more sedate pace than that of his sister. He wasn't sure how he felt about his father at this one moment in time. He only knew that papa being gone made mama sad, and that was that. Tofauti paused as he watched Safura and papa embrace, and saw the emotion that was on his father's face. It was papa, papa was here, and mama could be happy again.
With a tearful howl, one he couldn't hold back, Tofauti threw himself towards his father. Heavy sobs wracked his little body as he wailed into his fathers mane. "Papa!!"
Spenta let the tears fall. He was holding in his arms two of the cubs he'd been a part in creating. His heart ached that he couldn't have been here for them in the past, but he was here now. He was here now and he loved these babies that he held in his arms. "Son," he whispered, the sound lost in Tofauti's sobs.
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