Welcome to Gaia! ::

Part of Tulia felt as if she'd regained her sight. The little bird perched on her shoulder would warn her if she was going to step on a particularly sharp rock, or run into a boulder, or plant herself face first into a tree. It was so glorious, really, having a seeing-eye bird. Tulia giggled inwardly at that thought, stepping over a fallen branch that Nila warned her about.

"I hope we can fix your wing," she mumbled absently to her guide in a moment of silence. "Sebae isn't really good at that sort of thing, but maybe Esti is. Or maybe Mkhai, I'm not sure." Tulia couldn't imagine what it would be like if she couldn't walk, and that's how Nila must be feeling, threatened by losing the functionality of her wing.

Sebae had never stopped watching after the comings and goings of her baby sister. She knew when Tulia left the inner pridelands and when she returned. It was the only thing that kept Sebae sane. Tulia had assured Sebae that she was perfectly safe because she kept close to the little stream that was constantly fed by snowmelt, but that didn't really put Sebae's mind at complete ease.

It had been a while since Tulia had gone, so Sebae was keeping a constant eye in the direction of the stream. When she saw Tulia coming back, laughing at something, Sebae stormed over to her twin sister, eyes ablaze... until she caught sight of the bird perched on Tulia's back.

"What on Earth is THAT?!"

Nila bit back a giggle, ruffling her feathers the slightest at the indignant look on Sebae's face after Tulia asked her question. Tulia was unlike any lion she'd ever met, and even in the short time of their friendship Nila found herself quite fond of the blind lioness. She was brash but friendly, a wonderful combination as far as Nila was concerned.

"Hello, Sebae!" Nila twittered, "Tulia has told me so much about you. It is a pleasure." Leaning forward, she giggle-whispered, "Disbelief, and maybe a little frustration." Rocking back to her previous position, Nila eyed Sebae innocently.

Tulia moved forward to nudge her nose against her sister, hitting Sebae on the shoulder. "I'm trying to convince Nila to stay with us here in the Ongozana'Ke, even if her wing mends and she can fly once more. We could always use another pair of eyes since I'm missing mine," she joked, though a part of her was very serious. "She was ever-so-helpful guiding me home since I couldn't very well traipse through the stream with Nila on my back. If a sharp rock or tree branch was in my path, she would warn me of it! It was so kind of her."

It was hard, Tulia thought to herself, to beg a creature to stick around just for her own personal reasons. She wanted Nila to stay with her so that she could be her eyes; it was silly, but she hoped that with Sebae's help, she could convince the bird to stick around.

Sebae watched the bird out of the corner of her eye as she began walking towards their communal den. In there would be strips of fur that could be used to bind Nila's wing, and from there it wasn't a long walk to get them both a meal. She wasn't sure what Nila ate, but Sebae figured it wouldn't be hard to find something for the little bird to munch on.

"I'm glad Tulia found you," Sebae murmured, meaning that in more ways than one. "You wouldn't believe the friends she's met near that stream. She always was the more personable sister," Sebae couldn't help but laugh. Tulia was more sociable, but Sebae was more practical. Together they made a perfect lioness, and that made Sebae chuckle.

Nila trilled, impressed. "A member of the council? That's wonderful!" She nudged towards Tulia's neck, indicating that the lioness should get closer to the ground so that Nila might sit; it would be easier for Sebae to wrap the bandages around her wing. As Tulia got the hint and moved to rest on her stomach, Nila slid off her back with a soft 'thud' and awkwardly ambled towards Sebae.

"We will have to see what happens, Tulia. I do not want to promise that I will remain here forever, but I do not want to say that I will be leaving. I owe you my life," she amended, not wanting to sound harsh, "and for that I am thankful."

Tulia snorted at her sister's comment, though it wasn't done with any malice, only embarrassment at the loving tone her sister took. She rested her head on her paws, eyes closed and a smile on her muzzle as she spoke.

"Then let me be honest with you, Nila. I have never had a companion that wasn't a lion or another feline. Having you with me this afternoon, guiding me along an unknown path, was a wonderful experience. I felt as if I could see again, and it was beautiful." She smiled sheepishly. "Perhaps if you stayed we could find much to do together."

She didn't want to beg the bird to stay, but she wanted Nila to be her companion on a more permanent basis.

Sebae rose to her feet, nuzzling her nose into her sisters ear and exhaling. It'd always tickled Tulia, and today was no different. "Lets go get some food, and then I have duties to attend to." She waited for Tulia to rise and follow before she exited the mouth of the den, Tulia and Nila in tow.

She hoped the bird would stay, too, but she knew that Tulia would be fine if the bird didn't. Tulia bounced back from everything, and Sebae knew that this situation would have the same end result if Nila decided to leave their pride.

"I hope you like meat," Sebae joked as she led her sister and Nila down the rocky decline. "We don't have anything else in stock, but maybe Tulia could help you find some berries after she eats?"

Sebae knew it would all work out. It always did.