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 Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 6:30 pm
 A tiny brown cub sat at the entrance of her den. Though her partly narrowed eyes occasionally rose to watch her surroundings, Mel’Tamu was most often staring intently at The Line. The Line was not visible, not really, but the young cub had learned from a very young age where her den ended and the outside world began. This was her den, the safest place in the world where she lived with her mothers, her siblings, her amazing winged father and her big sister, waiting to see when the big brothers she didn’t know would return. One step further and there were lions and cubs and glimmering waters and so much more to see and experience. But she wouldn’t cross it, she wouldn’t dare to simply walk out unaccompanied. That was something Mel knew that was a bad thing, something she was just not supposed to do.
There was stirring behind her and the cub looked back into the darkness, pale green eyes searching for the source of the noise.
“Momma…?”
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Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 6:58 pm
Asali emerged from the darkness, a dreamy expression washed over her face. Her eyes seemed unfocused, wandering across the sky over her daughter's head. It took her a moment to register the voice, as if it had traveled over a long distance to reach her. "Yes?" she answered wearily, casting a glance over her shoulder as she settled to sit just a few steps in front of the dark coated cub. It still seemed unreal to her some days. Things had improved, of course, Nywele had layered her with crystals and bits of shimmering metal he had found along his travels, but it still didn't seem right.
Nadhir stumbled along behind his mother. He kept close to her these days, finding it more comfortable to lie against the heat of her body when his mind went from him. As he approached the mouth of the cave he cringed a bit, gazing up at the sky. It was bright, momma didn't usually come out when it was bright. He whimpered, snuggling up against her back before he noticed the presence of his sister. She was stronger, healthy, momma had said that daddy would love her more. Accordingly he offered her a soft smile, "Good morning Mel."
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Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 7:18 pm
You look tired.
“You look pretty today.” Mel corrected her own thoughts quickly, watching in awe as her mother crossed The Line with such ease. She was quick to follow, taking in the sun and breeze with content smile before moving closer to Asali. He couldn’t understand why Nadhir didn’t seem happier coming outside, perhaps he was just sleepy. Or maybe he wasn’t feeling too well… that happened sometimes. Unaware of his brother’s thoughts, she offered Nadhir a bright smile and a playful paw. “Morning, sleepy head.”
“I had a pretty dream last night… but…” she said happily at first though her words quickly strayed into thoughtful brooding.
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Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 7:55 pm
The lioness's eyes seemed to focus on her daughter for a moment with a warm affection. "Thank you dear," she added softly, turning her gaze back to the horizon, "It's a nice day isn't it, not too hot." It was unfortunate that she could not think of anything but shallow chatter to entertain her cubs. Her cubs, the thought repeated itself over and over but something about it still felt strange. They felt more Nywele's than her own, except the twins, the lovely twins. Her mind swum a bit as the sunlight caught on the crystal at her throat. It remembered her always, comforting. She leaned in to her daughter, leaving her son to stumble to catch up.
Nadhir was caught by the word dream, it was how his father had described the things he saw, but he knew better. Momma knew too, they weren't dreams. They were something horrible, and they were never pretty. All the same he was glad that his siblings did not suffer the same. His stomach roiled a bit and he rocked, nudging himself forward a little more into the sun on his sister's other side. He returned her smile with what energy he could manage, sitting himself up straight. "But?" he questioned, wavering a bit toward her.
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Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 8:37 pm
“Yes, it’s nice.” Mel agreed sweetly as she leaned against her mother contently with a soft purr, glad that Asali seemed to be a little happier.
“Uh…? Oh.” Mel caught herself and then a small frown formed over her eyes as the cub considered how to best explain the pleasant but odd experiences. “Well… I thought I was awake. You know, before it started…”
She took a moment to examine Nadhir more carefully before nuzzling her head against his neck as she quietly asked him a question. “Nadhir, are you still sleepy?”
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Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 8:43 pm
Asali now watched her children curiously. Already they seemed to have such distinct personalities, she wasn't sure what to make of it. It was odd that the first cubs she spent any time around were her own, she had never expected it to be that way. Especially not here, like this. A glint on the horizon distracted her, a bird maybe, with hints of bright blue. Shame, Nywele should fetch her more feathers, perhaps she'd make a bed of them.
Nadhir thought for a moment, not wanting to upset her. "No, I'm not sleepy," he protested, pulling himself to his feet with a bit of effort. He'd been having trouble keeping food down lately, his visions coming on powerfully enough to overturn his stomach. "Maybe you fell asleep without noticing?" he proposed, "Momma says you can do that sometimes." He wasn't sure he believed it himself, sleep was supposed to be comfortable, "We could play, if you want." The small cub wasn't sure how long he could manage it but he would certainly try.
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Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 9:06 pm
“Maybe….” She didn’t really sound convinced. Actually, Mel was quite sure she’d been awake because she remembered quite clearly how she’d been watching daddy’s bird with great interest before it happened. But she certainly wasn’t going to insist on it.
Mommy was a little quieter now – enjoying the pretty surroundings, Mel assumed – so she eyed her brother excitedly. So that’s what he wanted! He was feeling playful but didn’t want to ask first. Silly Nadhir, daddy said boys were supposed to speak first anyway.
“Sure!” Mel said cheerfully head-butting her brother softly. “Tag! Catch me if you can!” In retrospect Mel knew that maybe she should’ve asked him what he wanted to play before starting the game but she was feeling playful now and the little brown cub ran behind her mother fully intent on circling Asali as she was chased by her brother - a way of including her mother in the game perhaps.
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 8:54 pm
Asali tensed as she watched Mel begin to play, keeping one eye watchful on Nadhir. She'd have to take him in if he wore himself out quickly, she couldn't risk Nywele seeing him ill again. Once or twice she could push off as an upset stomach, but the boy truly seemed to have a weak constitution. It bothered her, more than she would admit.
Nadhir was aware of his mother's eye but it did not stop him from halfheartedly bounding up to chase his sister around her. His paws moved as if they were still much to big for his feet and he seemed in constant danger of tripping and falling over himself. Even still he wore a bright smile, joking lightly, "I'm going to get you, you can't beat a boy silly!" He was panting already from just a few circles, feeling his head begin to swim. It got like that sometimes, if he pushed himself too hard. He didn't want to quit the game though, not to let his little sister win. What would the others say?
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Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2010 11:14 pm
If she’d noticed her brother was having trouble keeping up, Mel surely would’ve come up with an excuse to stop the game. As it were, the young banu was completely unaware of Nadhir’s discomfort and their mother’s concern. It wasn’t every day that she got to play with her brother and Mel intended to enjoy it as much as possible.
“Of course not, dear brother.” Mel answered cheerfully, running even faster. “But I can try!”
She giggled happily, returning Nadhir’s smile with a bright one of her own. The young cub looked up to Asali and found it slightly off-putting that she only had eyes for the male cub. Ah well, such was the way of the world. A boy would always be more important than a girl.
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Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 7:01 pm
Had Asali known how her daughter felt she might have shown some sort of assurance but unfortunately the lioness had remained quite selfish after the birth of her first litter. She had expected some polar shift in herself but found none. Her concern for her son was not driven by any particular affection for him, though she did find him sweet, but rather a fear for herself and how she might be judged for his flaws. A shame, she thought, that her pad's son closest in appearance could not be strong like him. At least the rest seemed alright. "Be careful," she told them halfheartedly.
Nadhir found himself panting out loud now, his throat constricting on his breath. As he focused on it a wash of loud dissonant sounds came into his mind and left just as quickly. He tripped over a paw and tumbled through the dirt for a few feet before managing to regain his footing. She was far ahead of him now and he felt his heart drop. He could have continued to chase her but his paw was throbbing now. Instead he flashed a look of anger that faded into one of profound disappointment. "I don't want to play anymore," he told her coldly, "It's a dumb game."
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Posted: Tue Dec 07, 2010 7:28 pm
She would’ve laughed had the cub missed Nadhir’s angry expression but Mel was watching her brother very closely now and it was clear that he was not happy – which meant she was also not happy and neither was their mother most likely. Since she had been the one to suggest the game, Mel couldn’t help but to feel it was her fault that her brother looked so down.
“I’m sorry, Nadhir. How about a different game?” Preferably one that didn’t involve running. The young cub spoke apologetically and her ears dropped for an instant though – easily excited and forever the optimist that she was - they rose again rather quickly. “Let’s find shapes in the clouds! Look, that one looks just like a hare.“
Her first guess was said rather tentatively as she was still unsure if Nadhir would forgive her or even play with his sister anymore. The cub rolled on her belly to watch the blue sky more comfortably, a small smile trying to invite Nadhir to join her. “That one looks like a bird. But big! Something big with wings. Maybe it’s dad! Wouldn’t it be great if we could grow wings and fly like dad one day?”
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Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:52 am
Asali couldn't help but smile at the cub's imagination. It was nice, to see them envisioning something outside of the very real future that surrounded them. She glanced up at the clouds herself, catching sight of the ones she had pointed out. It was nice to be with them, even if it was not what she had ever planned for her life.
"I'm going to," Nadhir told her panting, "Just like daddy. When I'm bigger I'm going to run and run till I go up into the sky and never come back." His chest was burning even after he laid down and joined her. He held one small paw up into the air, gesturing at a particularly dark set of clouds, "Those look like rocks." He wasn't the best at this game either, he wasn't the best at anything really. That was alright though, he was happy just being Nadhir.
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Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 2:33 pm
Mel’s heart skipped a beat and she gave her brother a very serious look. Did he really believe what he’d just said? She’d never told anyone about her dreams of flying or her hopes of one day growing real wings and it had never occurred to her that one of her siblings could have a similar wish. Listening to her brother speak in such a way truly warmed her heart and increased her hopes, making her most secret desires seem actually possible.
“I’m sure you will. But you must come back to us.” The cub smiled as she placed one brown paw on her brother’s leg and watched them merge together. Nhadir also had markings like their father, not wing-shaped ones but perhaps magic markings nonetheless. Maybe something amazing would happen as they grew. “You are not very good at this game, you know. My dear brother.”
The young girl giggled and purred contently, narrowing her eyes as she snuggled closer to Nadhir.
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Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:47 pm
Asali narrowed her eyes as she listened in on there conversation. This was dangerous talk, escaping. She wouldn't stand for it. Nadhir would have to leave, of course, all the males did. Still she wouldn't let him put the same ideas in his sisters head. "Sweetie, what do you think that one looks like?" she asked, gesturing far on the horizon.
Nadhir turned to look up at his mother for a moment and then snuggled in closer to Mel, nodding his head. "They're clouds momma," he said with a soft sigh, sensing the agitation in her voice. He hadn't meant to upset her, it was just things that came into his mind sometimes. It wasn't that he disliked his home, he just wasn't sure what to make of his mind showing him images of sky and water and motion.
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Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2011 10:05 pm
Mel would’ve laughed at his brother’s simple answer if she hadn’t suddenly noticed a tiny hint of tension in the air. One that he couldn’t really understand but it was there nonetheless and it wasn’t very hard to stifle a giggle. She was quite happy laying still, nuzzling against the warm body of her brother and listening to the sound of her mother’s voice from time to time.
“I’m sleepy.” The cub whispered quietly, but loud enough for the others to hear. It wasn’t completely true as she was feeling more languid than tired but it seemed like the best way to diffuse the tension before it grew into anything else. She was really enjoying this little moment with her mother and her brother that it would be a shame if something ruined it. “Momma… can you hum a tune for us? A slow one? Nice and… sweet?” She wasn’t sure if tunes could be classified as “sweet” but a little lullaby from her mother was just what she craved right now.
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