She was getting close. She could smell it. The scent of... fire in the air. It lighted her own burning passion in her soul; she had been waiting for many years, heard many things since she was but a child.The white lioness bleached the savanna grasses through her walk. Golden eyes peered curiously at the sun. It seemed brighter today. Perhaps it was more warm. She smiled. The sun was a great thing, perhaps something even her sister, Barakoa, could appreciate as well. The two had constantly clashed as siblings, and she had last seen Barakoa leaving with... a rather menacing trail.
But that was none of her business now. Barakoa was long gone, and the white lioness had other things to worry about other than her conniving and larger sister. She was sure that was the last she would hear of Barakoa. It wasn't like Barakoa wanted to know of her whereabouts, either. The two were still bound by blood and history, except neither would accept that as a factor in leaving the other be.
Anyways, back to the searching and journey... She tossed her head back as she saw a rusty figure in the distance. Was that perhaps a guard of the pride? No, she shouldn't get her hopes up, but...
She moved as quick as the sun's rays, fluid movements caressing the grass they trod upon.
He could feel it in the ground. He was on familiar territory. The lands of the Ukuucha'Wafalme drew very near, and he was very anxious. As were his females.A deep brown mane swept against the winds, sun baring down on the dark brown male, spreading fervor throughout his body. They were resting again. His females were resting again, and soon, that would not be acceptable anymore. He had given such lenience on the journey that they would possibly not adhere to Ukuucha'Wafalme standards back in the pride. That was simply intolerable. He smiled, knowing that his females were very much promising, yet he would have his way with them and carve them into the paragons of banu. He was the only sole pad in the Ukuucha'Wafalme that possessed the inherent capabilities of performing this. Not even the sultan could have such banu.
But he was not one to challenge the sultan, or at least not yet. Oh, yes, he would have the best banu in the pride, but he would be able to gain sway in the pride greater than the over-glorified sultan. He didn't need that position to know of his own power and might.
The lion was lost in thought when the white female came strolling towards him. It was as if a present was being delivered to him. But of course, being the lion he was, it was perfectly acceptable and even expected that females would fall for him and come to him, begging to be his subject. Oh, yes.
"Hmm?" he mumbled out once he realized the white female was closing in, and she was near talking distance to him; did she want to join his harem, too?
But he did not see her in his visions, so perhaps she did not have a significant role. That was also true of the kajira.
The lioness stopped shortly from the large brown figure. She realized he wasn't red, like she hallucinated seeing in the distance. But he was big, perhaps as large as a standard Firekin. She couldn't tell, of course, not being experienced. But he looked quite formidable. She prepared herself for any danger, being well adept herself at surviving, especially because she had lived with Barakoa for half her life.
She wondered, though. Would the Firekin accept non-traditional colors? Could a dark brown pelt be someone from those lands? She was sure she was close, and he had the size...
When she reached him, she flickered her eyes at him very curiously, tail swaying back and forth with some kind of interest.
"Are you from the Motoujamii?" she inquired, straight to the point.
For that was the kind of lioness she was.
Apparently this female had no manners. The male lion pursed his lips and looked on with growing disdain at the white lioness in front of him. Females were not supposed to walk up without showing some coyness, some humbled greeting. She had gone up and right away asked a question that came out of nowhere. However, the question had a word in it that he found rather puzzling and similar to something he had heard of before from someone... Who had that been? The Motoujamii? Oh, Korofi-uzulu!
He glanced at the white female again. She was blinding white, but Korofi-uzulu had white on her, too... And she had tail stripes, perhaps reminiscent of Korofi's own stripes. They were nowhere as elegant and perfected as his own.
"What is it that you speak of, female?" he said, trying to hold back an irritated snarl, "You are to address me as Pad Akram'raja, I am from the Ukuucha'Wafalme and know not of what you speak. However, I do have a female that I believe to be from those lands... Yes, that Korofi-uzulu. I believe she has talked about it on our travel, yes. She mentioned something about being kin of fire?"
He laughed, "But I am not a mere informational post, female. I am merely curious whether you have any connections with my Korofi-uzulu or not. If you've come to take her, your goal is in vain."
Her ears pinned back; she didn't really like the way the male was talking to her, as it assumed that he was on a higher ground than her. His speech came out in a domineering way. It sounded like he held all infallible truth, and she was just a pester to him. Her mouth curved, displeased by his attitude. At least he answered her question.
"I don't know Korofi-uzulu..." she said, thinking.
But this Korofi-uzulu had been a Firekin! It was apparent by the way Akram'raja talked about it.
"I am Karatasi, and I am looking for the Motoujamii. Can I speak to Korofi-uzulu, then? If she's your female, she must be nearby. Males should have their females near them, so I'm surprised to see that she's not with you right now."
So this female had her own plans. Pity, she would have made an interesting kajira with that vaguely appealing bright white pelt with trailing stripes on her tail. That, or she could make a good rug. He sniffed.
"I am glad to see that you retain some form of manners and know your place, female, but I will not allow you to see my female," he stated.
Karatasi might make Korofi-uzulu think about returning to the Motoujamii, and that was not part of the plan. That would have been very unfavorable.
It was baffling! Why would the male lion, annoying and high and mighty as he was, not let her see the lioness who could help her in finding the Motoujamii? She cursed, swinging her tail wildly around in rising anger.
But she had to calm herself. No, she would not be like Barakoa. She was not one quick to anger, but rather one that thinks of an alternative to get what she wanted. Surely the male did not see reason?
"Why will you not let me see her?" she asked, "I need to ask a question that will help me."
"You see, lioness, I cannot help you, for you cannot help me. You expressed that you are returning to this 'Motoujamii' land, and so you would not be able to return with me to the Ukuucha'Wafalme. I have no need for you, so I am not willed to accept your request. I, Akram'raja, do not submit to the will of mere rogue lionesses."
He frowned and then turned his tail to her, knowing that he would strike out if she followed.
"Do not pester me, mortal."
She blinked in half agitation, half confusion. He wasn't a god, was he? Well, he surely thought himself to be. She couldn't understand it. All she wanted was something simple - to speak with his female, and she was not allowed it. She hissed in anger, watching the male turn his back to her.
But he was rather threatening - his size, the way he talked. It seemed like it was possible that he would turn on her and fight her if he wanted to do so.
So she didn't follow.
"Really, now..."
Yes, really. Akram'raja continued on his way, sensing that the female was not following him, nor possessed any ideas to do so. He smiled. His aura he exuded was really impressionable.
That was why he was one of the mightiest lions in the Ukuucha'Wafalme. And he would only grow in power.
Akram'raja kept going, so Karatasi pouted, huffed, and turned tail to the other direction. She wasn't stupid, so knew she would eventually find her way home. But it would have helped... It would have been an immense help if she had found a member of the Motoujamii to direct her so she would waste less time.
Alas, it would take more time, but she knew she would find home some day.
