Sonali soared across the savanna, staying low to the ground out of personal preference. She tended to loose track of where she was easily, which made her job pretty hard, but if she stayed low, she could follow the landmarks more easily. She was calling as she flew, not making words, simply making noise to pass the time. She wasn't on a job at that moment, her last job having ended on a slightly sour note when she was told to take the news of a cub's death to to the grandmother of the cub. It was that kind of news that Sonali hated delivering. The motherly bird sighed, her eyes slipping closed, remembering the tortured look on the grandmother's face.
Feeling something clip her wing, Sonali panicked and her eyes flew open, narrowly missing another tree branch which had hit her wing earlier. She squawked, ducking low and hurriedly landing, her feathers fluffing up. Oh wonderful! She thought with a huff. The only tree in the savanna and she nearly hit it! She shook her head, and had to laugh. Just her luck!
-
Dysi had been watching the bird, an amused and somewhat frustrated look on his face, wincing as she narrowly missed the tree. He had seen the dark shape in the sky, but it was only when she unknowingly steered herself towards the only tree in the place that he knew he recognised her. Sonali. She really was the clumsiest bird he knew, but she was awfully sweet. He got to his feet, slipping from his rock and moving towards the tree where she was now standing near. He heard her laugh and smiled a little.
“Hello there, clumsywings,” he called out, getting closer to her.
-
Sonali's head jerked up at the sound of anothers voice and her eyes lit up. “Girlyboy!” She called out teasingly, ignoring his nickname of 'clumsywings' which he had given her on their last meeting. She laughed again, fluttering up to nuzzle the tuff upon his head, before settling on it as if it were a nest. “How have you been? And your delightful daughters, how are they?” He'd always spoken proudly of his many little girls that he was able to fuss over, and even spoke briefly of his sons which he barely knew.
-
Dysi smiled and shook his head, playfully trying to dislodge the black and red bird. However, his happy mood sobered quickly at her question. His daughters. They were all well, thankfully! But it was his eldest that his heart was heavy for. She was leaving the family, traveling to a pride that he did not know to be with a male that, although seemed nice, Dysi didn't even know very well. It made him worry.
“They're fine, Sonali,” he told her lightly, but his tone was no longer joyful. “My eldest has found a boy.”
-
Sonali shook her head at Dysi, looking more and more amused at his sombre expression. “You say it like it's the end of the world, Dysi! You had to know she would get herself a mate eventually.” She peeked down her beak at him, her blue eyes sparkling happily. “Is he a nice boy? I'm sure he is. Else your eldest would never like him, right? Oooh, just imagine, Dysi! You could be a grandmama soon!”
She trilled with laughter. Dysi would make such a good grandmother, after all, he made a good mother now.
-
Dysi frowned, but had to agree she was right. It was not the end of the world, but it still worried him. “He is a nice boy,” he admitted sulkily. “It's just that she is leaving the family. She's traveling to a pride that we do not know, well, Kisun does but still. It's not the same. I want to know she will be safe.”
He blanched. “Grandchildren?” He ignored the 'grandMOTHER' comment, he was well aware he was girly, thank you very much. “Not soon, I hope! She is barely more than a baby herself.” Oh wonderful. Something MORE to worry about. He winced.
-
Sonali tilted her head. “Which pride is it? I don't have any jobs for a while, perhaps I could fly over it and just check it out? If it's not good, I'll come back and warn you and we can go after your daughter.” Of course, Sonali had no intention of telling Dysi anything bad about the pride, unless it looked terrible and horrid for the future member, but Dysi didn't need to know that, did he? She smiled secretively to herself. Really, her friend worried far too much for his daughters.
“A baby? Dysi, she has to be at LEAST an adolescent. You and I both know that people have had babies at that age. Just imagine, new little ones to play with.” She cooed, happily. She always did love cubs. That was why she spent most of her days with Tega, he really was a sweetheart and he did need someone to look after him when he got spooked. He had a mother and a father though, so that was different. She was just babysitting, not really 'looking after' him usually.
-
Dysi perked up, shaking her off his head quickly as he looked down at her. “It's the Ukuucha'Wafalme. Do you know of it?” He asked eagerly. What a perfect plan! Keena, Kisun and Star never had to even know that he'd checked the pride out, so he wouldn't be painted as a overprotective parent unless something was very wrong, and then he'd be a hero rather than a jerk who doesn't trust his daughters choices.
He looked slightly green. “Please stop talking about my baby having babies.” Admittedly, the idea of new babies to play with was an exciting thought but he didn't want grandchildren yet! They were still so young. He frowned. That male had better not push her to have cubs at such a young age either, or he'd have to answer to Dysi!
-
Sonali fluttered to the ground, settling easily as he shook her off. She shook her head after pausing a moment to think. “No, but I can ask around, see if any of my contacts know where it is,” she reassured him. “It'd take me a while to find it though, but perhaps I can get a job while I'm there,” she suggested, with a smile. Always make the best of things! She giggled at his obvious distaste at the idea that his daughter would be a mother. “Alright, alright, sweetie. I won't say anything more about it.”
She paused, and eyed him. “I suppose you want me to go search for the pride now?”
-
Dysi looked a little embarrassed but nodded quickly. “Yes. If you don't mind.” He felt guilty cutting their meeting short but really, didn't she understand how much he wanted his daughter safe and cared for? He had to know the pride, and the male, would take care of her and keep her safe. He just wanted her happy.
-
Sonali sighed and rolled her eyes in a childish gesture. “You're lucky I like you, Girlyboy!” she teased, and fluttered her wings a little, stretching. “I'll be back within a few days. Try not to move around too much, you'll just delay me finding you again. Or go back to the Kuroi, I can find you easier there.” She smiled and took to the skies, pausing to nuzzle the tuff of hair on his head once more.
“Take care Dysi! Give my love to your little ones!”
-
“Fly safe and quickly, Sonali!” He called back, lifting his head to watch her fly. He did like talking with the bird, but he was eager for her to find out all she could about the pride. He smiled to himself. He would get some honest answers and make sure the pride was worth his babygirl.
He nodded to himself and stretched, eyeing the rock he had vacated earlier. Well, he couldn't do much now, he supposed, except wait. He moved back towards the rock, leaping back into position and sprawling out. He may as well enjoy himself as he waited, he thought, closing his eyes as the sun warmed his fur.
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