Haramu yawned and stretched, shaking the sleep from her. It was...odd waking up during the day. But she and Sira had adjusted to it. It was...nice, she had to admit. The sun was beautiful, and like a sky full of brilliant stars, there was something amazing about a clear blue sky stretching out over the horizon. The pale yellow and red lioness rolled onto her back with a smile on her face. There was barely a cloud in the sky today, and those that were there were small and raced across the sky with the breeze that swept through the savannah.
Aamira, by contrast, had always been something of an early riser. After all, those who were up early had the best chance of possibly catching some small prey - or convincing their parents to get up and catch something -for- them, if they were too small to hunt for themselves. So the younger lioness had already been up for a little while, and had decided to do exactly that - scouting about for some kind of small game. She still wasn't very good at this hunting in the open thing, however. There was a muttered curse from behind some grass over to one side - as the hind end of a rabbit bounded away from her.
Haramu blinked and looked behind her, seeing the rabbit bound off and towards the rest of their little group. Well...that creature wouldn't last long, knowing Sira. She turned over onto her belly so she could see the grassy patch better. "Having trouble, Aamira?" She'd grown rather fond of the younger lioness as they traveled, and she knew Sira had as well.
Aamira made a bit of a face at that, nodding. "A little ..." she admitted with a flick of her tail. Really, she was just trying to distract herself, though - what she should truly be thinking about was her true name. Not that -that- particular endeavor was going anywhere at the moment either.
Haramu smiled slightly and got to her paws, trotting over to Aamira. "If you'd like some help, I don't mind. You've more pressing matters to worry about anyways." Since Aamira was traveling with them, and wasn't really suited for hunting in the open, Haramu didn't mind taking on her share. Besides...Names were a very, very important thing.
Aamira sighed softly at that, plopping down onto her rump. "I know... I'm just having trouble thinking of something that -really- fits me," she murmured, staring at her paws. This naming thing was harder than it had seemed like when she was back home.
Haramu sat beside her and carefully nudged her shoulder. "You'll think of something. You've got it much easier than an Aikanaro'hini member your age. You'll figure it out eventually, or find that defining moment of your life that makes you...you."
"I really hope so," Aamira replied with a quick smile. She was truly growing to like Haramu and Sira both ... she'd hate to leave them when the time came, honestly.
"Just be patient." She licked the top of the other's head. "I've been thinking...about the things you've told us about your pride. It...it sounds like a wonderful place. And some of the beliefs held are somewhat like the ones I grew up with, both with my mother and the lady she gave me over to to save me."
Aamira tilted her head just slightly at that, watching the older lioness. "Really?" she asked softly. "I never knew that there might be other places similar... but I think it's a very nice place to live."
Haramu nodded. "A little. It's mostly small things. Like the belief in spirits, and names having power." She sighed. "My mother's birth-pride believed that sould ready for another life took the form of fireflies. And that if a cub was born without a firefly nearby, they were soulless and not to be named until they found a firefly and had the cub eat it."
Aamira's eyes widened a little at that. "Oh ... that's really pretty," she replied, purring softly. The swamp lions didn't have any particular legends about specific other animals, but that story kind of made her wish that they did.
Haramu nodded. "In truth...I believe in it myself." She looked a bit sheepish. "I didn't think I did until my cubs were born. But when I saw the fireflies flitting about, blinking after I'd brought them into the world...I felt the oddest sense of relief..." She wondered..."Are there fireflies in the swamp?"
"There are! A lot of them," she replied eagerly, smiling at the other lioness. "Though I don't know if any were around when I was born..." This was almost teasing, though, as she didn't exactly believe in the soul-thing. But it was a very nice tale.
Haramu laughed brightly, a rare sound from her. "Well, considering you seem to be just fine, I'd think there were." Her voice was teasing right back, an equally teasing smile on her face. "I think Sira would agree with me you seem to have quite a nice soul."
Aamira blushed just slightly under her dark fur at that, ears twitching. "Well ... I'm glad you think so," she replied, the older lioness's words waking a warmth in her that was ... just slightly different from anything she had felt before. But it definitely wasn't -bad-.
The scarred lioness nodded. "You're a good creature. I'm honored that we got to meet you and spend time with you, no matter where our paths lead us in the future." She still needed to talk with Sira but...perhaps, when Aamira found her adult name, they could travel to the Jini-msemi themselves, and see if they would be welcome there. A steady home sounded wonderful, and...something about the Jini-msemi, beyond Aamira herself, just seemed to CLICK in Haramu's soul.
"Thank you, Haramu," Aamira replied, ducking her head a little. She wasn't sure -why- but somehow ... she got the feeling that it would be some time before she was parted from these two. They all just seemed -right- together, somehow.
