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 Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 3:38 pm
They were quite the little troop.
Ruka took the lead, striking out across the lands towards the place of her father's birth. The Pridelands. She had come here as a youngster with her family to meet some of her relatives and here she was again. Without her parents, but certainly not alone.
At her flank was a rogue she had come across just before they'd started on this mission of theirs. Her name was Juba and though she was a little mad, the two females had grown exceptionally close in such a short time. Their mutual respect for one another had been practically instantaneous and Ruka knew already that she'd miss the company of the chatty but wise female. Even now, Juba was talking, though it was mostly to herself.
"Always thought it unsafe to enter another land. Interesting that you walk in so confidently. My theory is that you have been here before. But why? Curiosity, perhaps? Friends? Family? Ah yes, family. As I suspected. Like it when I'm correct. So you have been here before? Comforting, I think, to know we're not bumbling headfirst into trouble. I'm a fighter, yes, but against so many lions our chances are...not so good." She gave a small sniffing sound and glanced across to her side where the small golden cub trotted.
The cub was the reason they were here in the first place. Apparently he'd thought it a good idea to go out by himself on some adventure and had gotten himself lost. Even still, it was safe to say that Jemadari was no worse for wear. In fact he seemed positively buzzing with energy, clearly excited to be home and to be able to share his stories with his siblings and friends. He'd also found a role model in Ruka; her leadership something that had truly inspired him.
It had come as a slight surprise to Ruka, too, that she'd been able to take control of the situation and rescue the cub from dangers as well as guide them back.
In truth, the situation had probably been worsened by the failed attempts at help from Kalpana and her close friend Marakl. The pair had found the lost cub first and had been trying to help him get home. As kind as that was, the fact that they hadn't known the way themselves had only taken them further from their destination. Even still, they had made it quite clear that they wanted to be sure the cub got home safely and that was the reason they were there now, following just behind the lionesses and the frolicking cub. "I do hope they're friendly to non-lions here." Kalpana murmured to her friend. The dark hyena simply chuckled, his tongue lolling from his mouth. He was clearly not concerned, but Kalpana inched a little closer to him, trusting in his stocky strength.
"We're almost there!" Jemadari's shrill cry of delight could be heard loud and clear.
"I bet your mother will be so glad to see you. She must be so worried!" Ruka replied, suddenly growing a little anxious. "You mustn't run off like this again until you're old enough to protect yourself."
Jemadari rolled his eyes, but he quietened a little; a clear sign that he understood and would at least try to stay put until he was older.
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Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 4:04 pm
Angavu was normally OK with letting her cubs wander as they liked. They weren't going to learn anything being stuck at home and trying to tell them not to go anywhere would just make them sneakier about going off.. as long as she knew what was going on, she could handle it appropriately. Jemadari going off on his own hadn't been a big deal.. but the longer he was gone, the more concerned she had become. While she wasn't quite panicking, she was out looking for him now. She'd asked her mother to keep an eye on the girls and was working her way outward from the den now. She only had a vague idea of the direction he had gone and so her plan was just as vague for now.
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Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 4:13 pm
Luckily Angavu would not have to look far.
The troop had made good progress and a few minutes later, her golden shape was spotted in the distance. Ruka paused and the others stopped too, following her lead. Juba was on alert and Kalpana looked very nervous. The hyena, however, was too busy glancing around to notice that his companions had stopped and walked straight into the back of the white and red lioness.
Juba hissed and gave the hyena a good swipe across the head. "Look where you're going!"
"Sorry..." Marakl hunkered down and backed off - straight into Kalpana who gave a yelp of surprise and then an apologetic whine. She couldn't help but feel they were causing more trouble than good.
"There's someone up ahead." Ruka explained to the cub who was struggling to see over the tall strands of grass. "Maybe someone you know?" Drawing in a short breath, she lifted the cub by the scruff so that he could see and almost dropped him a moment later as he tried to wriggle free from her grip.
"That's her! That's my mum!" He landed on all fours and charged off across the dusty ground, not even looking back to see if the others were following. Ruka leapt into action, running after him and quickly catching up. Juba was a couple of strides behind and the wild dog and hyena just behind her.
"Muuuuuuum!" Jemadari called. "I'm back. I'm back! And look! I brought friends!"
Ruka, rolling her eyes, drew across to the adult female and threw her a smile. "We found him out in rogue lands and thought we should bring him back." She explained, trying to catch her breath.
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Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 4:20 pm
Angavu had spotted the strange group off in the distance, though she hadn't noticed Jem's part in it until he was lifted up. It was a strange looking group, there were two lions and two.. somethings much smaller, but she couldn't say exactly what. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw one of them lift up Jemadari, though, especially when he started to struggle-- but it became clear very quickly that they were not causing any trouble. She sighed as she watched her son running toward her.
"I was wondering where you had gotten to," she said, addressing her son first, looking to Ruka as she explained what happened. She was surprised to hear that he had actually made it that far outside of the Pridelands. And, she noticed, the lioness looked very familiar.
"Thank you for bringing him home," she said, smiling at Ruka.
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Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 4:32 pm
"I got lost." Jemadari admitted. "Then I bumped into Kalpana and Marakl and they tried to bring me back. But then they got lost, too! We might never have made it back, but then Ruka came and they knew the way."
Juba, who had not been mentioned, simply gave a loud huff, rolled her eyes, and sat heavily on the grass.
"We didn't really get lost, did we Kal?" Marakl interrupted. "We don't go near prides so we'd never been here before. We figured it'd be better to stick with the cub 'till he found someone who did." He lifted both large ears and grinned, seemingly happy with the part he had played in the 'rescue'. Kalpana, at his side, agreed with a silent nod. She was peering at the new lioness with some nervousness.
"You're very welcome." Ruka replied. "I was passing by here in any case and when Jem said he was from Pridelands I figured it was about time I came for a visit. I have family here, you see, so that's how I knew where to find you."
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Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 5:00 pm
There were so many people participating in the conversation that it was hard to know what exactly she ought to say to any of them now, or what she ought to say to Jemadari about being more careful. It was harder to parent in front of others, she knew she didn't exactly have the same take on it as others even within her own family.
"That's very lucky for you, then, Jem," she said, looking back at her son, "Did you thank them for their help?" She glanced up at Ruka when she mentioned having family here.
"You do look familiar, what family do you have here?"
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Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 5:19 pm
"Um..." The cub trailed. "Think I did." He turned to look at the gang who had cared for him and gave them a large, gleaming smile. "But just in case I forgot: Thank you!"
With that done he moved to sit next to his mother and leaned against her foreleg, content to be back with her after his adventure.
Ruka smiled and nodded. "I have quite a lot of family here. My grandparents on my father's side are Amari and Maawio. My mother's name is Kimya'kizuka. She once went by a different name, but I don't know it. Her father lives in these lands. His name is Wahabu. His mate's name is Shani. When I came last, they had a litter of cubs about my age: Akisukari, Tamu'ini, Habibu and Oha-mele. Do you know any of them?"
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Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 5:27 pm
Angavu smiled at nodded to Jemadari as he turned and thanked them all again, leaning down and giving him an affectionate nudge on the forehead. She was glad to have him back, she wasn't a very good worrier. She looked back up to Ruka as she began describing her family here. She had never met anybody from her paternal family but she knew who she spoke of.
"Oh, I do know Wahabu and his family," she said, "Some of them, anyway. My sister has cubs with one of Wahabu's older sons, Manuku. And my aunt is mated to one of Shani's sons."
They shared plenty of family.
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Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 7:07 am
"So we're practically family!" Ruka exclaimed, throwing Angavu and Jemadari a wide grin. "You hear that, Jema?"
The cub nodded. "We have a big family." He agreed.
"Strange that, of all the lions I could meet out in rogue lands, I meet one with a connection to my family. An odd coincidence if there ever was one." The adolescent observed.
"Coincidence or fate." Juba added. "One and the same. All depends on whether you like to believe you have control over your life or not. Either way suits me. We'll never know so why worry about it."
"If you don't mind." Kalpana spoke up. "Marakl and me are going to take our leave. We need to head back out into rogue lands and...well, we'd rather not catch any more attention than needed." She gave the hyena a nudge and he leapt to his feet - seemingly not bothered whether they stayed or left. "Right, Mar?" The wild dog insisted.
"Uh, yeah, right. Let's go." He threw his purple-eyed gaze across the lions and, with a light chuckle turned and padded off. Kalpana hesitated a moment and then gave them a faint smile. "Glad you're home safe, little one." And, with that she turned and dashed off after the hyena, slowing only when she could match his springing pace.
Ruka and Juba - now the only ones remaining - sat side by side. "If you ever wish to visit my homeland, either of you, you'd be very welcome. The Jini-Msemi Swamps are not too far a walk from here and I'm certain my parents would love to meet you."
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Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 1:58 pm
That did seem to be a typical reaction of the family, Angavu observed. Maybe Tzila didn't particularly care to try to include them but Manuku had tried, and Kafara and Enzi really made it easier for everybody else. She wasn't surprised.
She opened her mouth to speak but stopped when Juba spoke about coincidence and fate, looking over at the rather stange lioness who had not really been introduced or mentioned. She, too, looked familiar. The markings, at least.
"Thank you," she said as Kalpana and Marakl took their leave, not able to get in much else before they were off. She glanced back to Ruka ad Juba, "They didn't need to be so nervous, the pride isn't particularly concerned with keeping anybody away."
She looked down at Jem as Ruka invited them to visit her home.
"We'll keep that in mind."
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Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 2:10 pm
Ruka nodded. "They're the first of their species I've had any dealings with. I have to say, they're a little odd." She gave a crooked grin. "But caring, if nothing else. Either I've been lucky with who I've met whilst travelling or those who wander the rogue lands are not as bad as we've all been led to believe."
Juba gave the brown lioness an odd look. "That depends on your point of view. Remember, Ruka, that those two were caught stealing your food. If you had not stopped to ask questions, you would have thought them thieves and chased them off. That is what I would have done - what you should have done. And yet you did not. You are odd. You would not make a good rogue. Not bad, but...not good either. Guidance is what you need, but you guide us as if you know what you are doing. An odd trait. Taught by your family, perhaps? I can think of no other way."
"Juba..." Ruka warned. The older female did tend to go on a bit... "Well, Angavu, we've kept you quite long enough. We'll be on our way now, though I may make a quick stop to drop in on some family." She smiled warmly. "No doubt I'll be back again someday. I'll be certain to say hello again, in any case."
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Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 2:23 pm
What an interesting pair, Angavu thought, watching as Ruka and Juba chatted. Juba was definitely not familiar with the pride here, nobody would particularly like having food stolen but there were so many of them, nobody would go hungry if some was stolen and some would even let them go off with a meal.
"All right," she agreed, smiling at Ruka, "Jemadari and I should probably get back home, I left his sisters with their grandmother." She looked down at Jem.
"Grandma will want to know you're home now, too," she said.
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Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 2:48 pm
Jemadari nodded. "Grandma can hear all about my adventure, too!" He sprang to his paws and gave his mother an insistent nudge.
Watching them, Ruka could not help but feel a pang of homesickness and a sudden desire to be back in her pride with her family. Whenever her thoughts lingered on the swamps and her friends and her siblings, she had a sudden yearning to go back. But, as long as her name still eluded her, she could not return.
"Take care." Ruka replied, backing away a little and giving Juba a nudge to get her moving. The white and red lioness complied and followed after.
"What are you thinking?" Juba asked the adolescent once out of earshot.
"I'm going to go visit some family. This is probably where we'll say our goodbyes."
Juba blinked. "Probably is not a definite. Probably means that you are not sure whether you want us to say a farewell or not. If my theory is correct than that means you would like me to wait. So wait I shall. I'll meet you in rogue lands. Don't worry. I will find you."
Ruka smiled, slightly embarrassed. "Thanks, Ju."
--
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