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Ajax was bored. Life just wasnt as interesting as it had been when he was a cub. He had enjoyed being able to play his imaginative games. They had been a good escape!
But now he was left being an adult. Oh how he hated being an adult. Even if he wasnt one yet .. He groaned, ,kicking a pebble out from the sand. It stung a bit, the pebble
being larger than it had seemed from his angle. Hissing, he drew his paw in torwards his chest. Damnit. He needed to be more careful. He had decided to seek out his father
today. Or at least stop him long enough to ask if he had seen cousin Kafele. He wanted to talk guy talk, and he simply couldnt do it with Tiki! He couldnt seem to find Kafele
on his own though, and that had left him desperate. He hated having to talk to any of his family. It wasnt that he disliked them. No he was rather okay with quite a few of them.
But he just hated having to ask anything. He wanted to be able to rely on himself. His family was just there to show him he relied on them most times. He sighed, and when he
saw the outline of the bright orange lion he groaned. Yeah, that would be father. Why the hell had he decided tod o this again? Oh yeah.. he remembered now.
He nodded his head in greeting to Tiki, who was busy munching on the carcass of a rabbit. He was tearing into the carcass, blood staining his light orange maw. He looked up with
his purple orbs, smiling at his son. While it was true he wasnt really close with any of his cubs, they were still his family, and Shani loved them dearly. He was beginning to like them
more now that they were adolescents. But now they just needed to be adults so he could pawn them off.He nodded his head to his son in return greeting, but he didnt stop digging into
the meal he had before him. He waited for Ajax to talk as he assumed he had something to say. He lifted an eyebrow curiously as he chewed, looking over his sons face.
"Father.. Have you seen cousin Kafele? I really need to find him." He said simply, hoping it would be enough for Tiki to answer and just let him be on his way. Though lately Tiki had been
more talkative. He figured it was because he was nervous. Shani had brought up cubs again, and Ajax knew just how his father felt about actually being a father. It wasnt a thing that
he thought such a miracle like alot of males. He saw it more as a fact of life.
Tiki focused for a moment, trying to think if he had seen teh ebony and ivory male that his son spoke of. He hadnt, and it didnt take long before Tiki to shake his head. His mane flew around his
head and he shrugged.
"Sorry kid. But no. I havent seen any of the family today." He had purposefully been keeping himself to, well, himself. He hadnt really wanted to meet with family today, but Ajax was more like himself.
He didnt like others much, and tried to just tolerate his life day to day around so many others. But he couldnt help but feel sorry for giving his son the same personality he lived with. It was rather a
difficult thing to tolerate, but he knew deep inside, Ajax had the kindness of his mother. He wasnt just destined to be doomed as Tiki was. No, Ajax could still do something with himself. Tiki was actually
rather interested to see what he would become.
Ajax snorted. Go figure. He should have known his father wouldnt ever be able to help him. He didnt dislike his father, really. Okay so maybe he did a little. He couldnt help but feel that little bit of resentment
at him. He hadnt really been a figure in his life growing up. He had mostly kept himself away from the den.. Hell even away from mother, so that he didnt have to be around them usually. Ajax just didnt think that
was a father.. and in his mind, Tiki was just his mothers boyfriend, and his sperm donor. His blue eyes were the color of his momma's and they werent that happy.
Tiki looked at him before tearing at the meal, in annoyance. He wondered if Ajax had heard him.. He didnt like repeating himself, but Ajax just stood there a
s if he hadnt heard him. Tiki raised an eyebrow.
"Did you need something else?"
Ajax snorted and raised his own eyebrow. There was no need for rude now.. Not that he thought Tiki knew he was being rude. But he had been, and that was all Ajax cared about. He was a realist, and he didnt care
if others liked him or not.
"Father, dont you think you could be a little kinder? I mean, seeing as you werent really there the entirety of my life. Now Im to deal with your patronizing as well?" He asked.
Tiki snorted, rolling his eyes. This was why he hated cubs. They were always seeking answers, and that was just something he couldnt help with.
"Ajax, I was here the entire time. I belong to this pride just as you and your mother do. Just because I busied myself, does not mean I wasnt around. Learn to busy yourself, and you will go far." He answered simply.
"Id hardly call that here. I busy myself enough, and you are still gone double the time that I am. We can all feel it. We know you dont want us around." He said. He wasnt sure why he was releasing this right now.. He really
hadnt meant to. But sometimes you couldnt control how you felt.
"Im sorry you feel that way. If I didnt want you, I wouldnt have tried to give you to your mother .I took some part in that too, and dont forget it." Tiki said.
"Now please, go find Kafele, so that I can continue my meal. We can continue this later if you choose."
Ajax didnt like being told that, but he knew when a topic was useless. He sighed, shaking his head. He didnt know why his father was against family, but he supposed it was for the same reason he himself was. He just didnt trust
family..
